August 8, 2024. Foxboro, Massachusetts, USA. New England Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden, 29, warms up before a game against the Carolina Panthers at Gillette Stadium. Required Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots have officially placed cornerback Alex Austin on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Patriots.com confirmed the news ahead of Sunday’s Week 4 game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Austin moved up the depth chart after Marco Wilson struggled against the Seattle Seahawks. The team will likely use Wilson again after he was inactive last week.
They also added second-year defensive back Isaiah Bolden to the 53-man roster to fill Austin’s void. Therefore, Wilson and Bolden will be two of the primary backups for Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, and Marcus Jones against a 49ers offense that uses weapons across the board.
The Patriots also had several practice squad promotions, including defensive tackle Tristen Hill and tight end Mitchell Wilcox.
Hill could help add depth to the defensive front, and Wilcox could serve as an additional blocking tight end against the Patriots’ rushing attack.
The Patriots need every healthy player they can find to fend off a ferocious 49ers defense on the road Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots make two second-half roster moves ahead of matchup with 49ers