The Patriots’ cornerback corps will undergo another change, with Tarell Brown heading to injured reserve, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
Despite playing in three games for the Patriots this season, including registering six tackles last week against the Cowboys, Brown struggled to overcome a foot injury. The 30-year-old corner this week received a second opinion on a foot that, per NESN.com, he likely reinjured in Week 2.
Brown finished last season on the Raiders’ injured reserve with a broken foot. The eighth-year corner carried a $2MM cap figure after signing a one-year agreement with the Patriots in July.
Brown underwent offseason foot surgery, which prevented him from signing with a team until late in the summer.
After signing in New England this summer, Brown started two games. His injury leaves the Pats’ cornerback corps with less experience, as Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan are now the team’s starting corners with scant depth behind them. Justin Coleman and Rashaan Melvin, the latter arriving as a waiver claim from the Ravens this week, are the team’s other healthy players at the in-flux position.
Derek Cox, Bradley Fletcher and Robert McClain signed with the Patriots to try and fill spots vacated by Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner and Kyle Arrington, but each was cut, leaving young contributors in charge of deterring wideouts.
A free agent who was in camp with the Pats, McClain has two workouts lined up, but New England hasn’t contacted him yet, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (Twitter link). Howe also speculates Fletcher, who the Patriots cut last week due to an injured hamstring, could be an option here.