The dismissal of cornerback Alex Austin, the Buffalo Bills’ seventh-round pick in the 2023 NFL draught, was one of the hardest decisions the team had to make in order to reduce its roster to the 53-man league limit before to the start of the season.
The remarkable depth the team already possessed at cornerback was the reason behind Austin’s dismissal rather than a lack of quality. Austin, who is 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, was swiftly claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans, defying the Bills’ hopes to get him back on the practise squad.
With Buffalo’s cornerback position taking a sharp turn going into Week 6, the Bills Mafia responded angrily to the Texans’ announcement on Saturday, October 14, that Austin had been dismissed. Fans and pundits pushed Brandon Beane, general manager of the Buffalo Bills, to bring Austin back.
It makes sense to try to get Austin back to Buffalo after losing Tre’Davious White to a season-ending Achille injury in Week 4, Christian Benford, the starting cornerback, missing Week 5 due to a shoulder injury, Kaiir Elam not living up to expectations, and Dane Jackson nursing a foot injury.
During his four years in college, the Oregon State alum recorded 141 tackles, one sack, four interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. He had nine stops in Buffalo’s three preseason games.
The Bills signed Josh Norman and Herb Miller to the practise squad in order to increase the depth at cornerback.
I thought CB Alex Austin was a steal in the seventh round.
Greg Cosell, an NFL Matchup expert, was shocked to see that Austin was still available in the seventh round. “I watched this guy and I kept thinking to myself, ‘What’s the difference between this guy and a guy taken in the fourth round?'” Cosell remarked in a May One Bills Live appearance.
Although he may have put some people off with his 4.55 40-yard sprint performance, Cosell stated, “He doesn’t play like that.” “He plays quickly. He has good movement, length, and size.
“I felt he played zone really, really well, which is something that not many college corners who are entering the NFL really understand.” He seemed to have a keen sense of route awareness. outstanding eye discipline Although I don’t think he could start at outside corner this year, I do believe he has starting qualities in the NFL down the future.
Austin said to reporters that he felt “incredibly blessed” to be a part of the Bills organisation and that he was “excited” to be a part of a team full of veterans, including All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer, another Oregon State alum.
Poyer is a Beaver legend, according to Austin. “I can’t wait to work with him, be at his side, and pick up some knowledge from him up there. I’m excited to simply step into the little brother role and absorb as much as I can from him because I know he’s a veteran and has been in the game for a very long time.
Against the New York Giants in Week 6, CB Kaiir Elam will have to make a decision.
While it is hard to replace a player like White. Elam, the Bills’ first-round selection from the 2022 NFL Draught, should have been waiting in the wings at that point.
After serving as a healthy scratch for the first four weeks, Elam was given the opportunity to start in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. However, he failed so much that head coach Sean McDermott benched him halfway through the fourth quarter.
For the remainder of the game, Ja’Marcus Ingram, a former Buffalo undrafted free agent, assumed his job after being promoted from the practise squad on Sunday. It doesn’t seem good for Elam that Ingram was elevated once more for the Bills’ Week 6 game against the New York Giants, with Jackson most likely out.
Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic, however, thinks Elam will play a lot against the Giants, a club the Bills are 14-point favourites to win, in order to “glow up game” and increase his potential trade worth.
With their risk-averse backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor in the lineup, the Giants offence may not be able to move the ball down the field very much, thus Elam will have a chance to regain confidence against a team without a dominant outside receiver.
Elam needs to be their best depth option going forward since he will be in a position to succeed. Although Elam is unlikely to unseat Jackson for the starting position, this game might be very beneficial for Elam and even the Bills should they decide to deal for him at the trade deadline.
Emily Bicks covers heavy sports, with a focus on the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills. She began contributing to Heavy in 2019 and has conducted interviews with some of the biggest names in sports, such as Stefon Diggs, Shaquille O’Neal, and Jerry Rice. More concerning Emily Bicks
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