The Patriots have made a somewhat surprising cut at the cornerback position, reportedly informing veteran Terrance Mitchell of his release.
The Patriots have informed veteran CB Terrance Mitchell of their intention to release him by today's deadline, according to a source.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 30, 2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN’s Mike Reiss was first to report the news Tuesday.We’re describing the move as a “surprise,” because Mitchell began 2022 training camp as a starter at outside cornerback. But it’s only “somewhat” surprising at this point, because Mitchell’s starter reps began to decline after Jonathan Jones returned from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Jones, the Patriots’ longtime starting slot cornerback, appears to be the favorite to start on the outside to begin the season, opposite Jalen Mills.
The real story with Mitchell’s release, though, is that it signifies a fast rise for a pair of promising rookies, who have relieved a lot of the off-season concerns that came with the Patriots’ roster turnover at such a crucial position.
Mitchell’s slide down the depth chart coincided with Jonathan Jones’ increased usage as a boundary cornerback as training camp progressed. But it’s possible that the latter’s presence on the outside is not permanent, or that it’s only part of the plan for Week 1 against Tyreek Hill and the Miami Dolphins.
If Jonathan Jones isn’t the Patriots’ long-term answer on the outside, that would likely come in the form of an emerging rookie, Jack Jones. The younger Jones, a fourth-round pick out of Arizona State, has surged over the last two weeks of the preseason, showing good play speed and ball skills on the outside. Granted, that performance has come against backups. But Jack has earned high marks on the vaunted the Eye Test™.
The Patriots also drafted a third Jones, Marcus Jones, in the third round out of Houston. This Jones (confused yet?) profiles as more of a slot cornerback and return specialist. But his explosiveness, athleticism, and instincts have stood out throughout the summer, even leading to reps with the starters. We’ll see how much he plays as a rookie, but the Pats have landed a talented football player here.
Mills, meanwhile, emerged as the anchor of the secondary over the course of the summer. He may not rank among the elite at the position, but his performance, combined with the emergence of the rookies, made a journeyman like Mitchell expendable.
Terrance Mitchell Career Stats Game Def Def Fumb Tack Year Tm G Int PD FF Comb 2015 2TM 8 1 3 1 13 CHI 5 0 1 1 DAL 3 1 2 1 12 2016 KAN 7 0 6 19 2017 KAN 15 4 18 53 2018 CLE 8 1 6 2 38 2019 CLE 15 1 3 21 2020 CLE 16 0 13 3 65 2021 HOU 14 1 10 3 60 Care 83 8 59 9 269 3 yr CLE 39 2 22 5 124 2 yr KAN 22 4 24 72 1 yr CHI 5 0 1 1 yr DAL 3 1 2 1 1 yr HOU 14 1 10 3 60 As of this writing, the Patriots are about an hour away from finalizing their initial 53-man roster. Here’s a look at who remains on the roster at cornerback as of about 3 p.m. ET:
Jalen Mills
Jonathan Jones
Myles Bryant (slot)
Jack Jones
Marcus Jones (slot)
Shaun WadeWade feels like a long shot to make the 53-man roster, but his spot is still alive as of this writing. That could change quickly. We’ll be sure to keep you updated with all the Pats’ roster moves here at 985TheSportsHub.com.
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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. You can also email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
