Two veterans will serve as standard elevations Sunday against the 49ers.
The New England Patriots will visit the San Francisco 49ers with a change at cornerback.
The organization placed Alex Austin on injured reserve and signed Isaiah Bolden from the practice squad to the 53-man roster amid a series of Saturday moves.
Austin, 23, had been ruled out on the final injury report due to an ankle issue that kept him sidelined throughout the week. The 6-foot-1, 191-pound Oregon State product has appeared in eight games, including his first NFL start, since arriving in Foxborough last November. One interception and nine tackles have been logged over a span of 225 snaps on defense and 42 snaps on special teams. He made previous stops with the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans after being selected in the seventh round of the 2023 draft at No. 252 overall.
Bolden, 24, outlasted the league’s 53-man roster deadline in August before being waived and re-signed to the practice squad at its formation. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound defensive back and returner by way of Florida State and Jackson State saw his rookie year end on injured reserve in the preseason. His initial snaps in the regular season lie ahead. At pick No. 245 overall in the seventh round, Bolden marked the final selection in the 2023 Patriots draft class.
In subsequent transactions, tight end Mitchell Wilcox and defensive tackle Trysten Hill have been elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s matchup at Levi’s Stadium. Both vested veterans are scheduled to revert next week.
Wilcox, 27, signed to the practice squad after being released as part of roster cutdowns. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound tight end out of South Florida entered the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He went on to appear in 48 games, starting nine, while in the AFC North. Wilcox caught 29 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown over that span before not being tendered as a restricted free agent in March.
Hill, 26, previously served as an elevation for the opener on the heels of his release following the 53-man deadline. One call-up remains for the former Central Florida standout, who initially signed to the practice squad last fall. Hill played seven snaps along the defensive line in his 2024 debut. Chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2019 draft at No. 58 overall, the 6-foot-3, 310-pounder has also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns. Through 32 games, including five starts, he stands with 39 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
The Patriots additionally ruled out offensive tackle Vederian Lowe and guard Michael Jordan prior to traveling to Santa Clara.
Sunday’s kickoff is set for 4:05 p.m. ET.