FLOWERY BRANCH -- With three cornerbacks out and a fourth recovering from an injury, the Falcons signed a free-agent cornerback Monday who has 17 career NFL starts on his resume.
Blessuan Austin, who was drafted by the Jets in 2019 and started 16 games with the team over the next two seasons, provides depth in the secondary as Jeff Okudah (left ankle), Mike Hughes (soft tissue) and Cornell Armstrong (soft tissue) are currently sidelined, and Clark Phillips III returned to workouts Sunday from an ankle injury.
“You’ve got 90 guys and thankfully, we don’t have to make any moves. It’s different this year, you can carry 90 all the way through.”
“These guys get great opportunities,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said on Monday. “It’s unfortunate when somebody gets injured and there’s another opportunity. Bless has been in the league. He came in here and worked out. Tried out in minicamp.... I’m excited to see him compete.”
The 27-year-old Austin, who also started one game for the Seahawks during the 2021 season, has played in 29 NFL games and has career totals of 98 tackles, eight passes defensed, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one quarterback hit.
