Jets Country

Former Jets Cornerback Bless Austin Finds New Home Out West

Former New York Jets cornerback Bless Austin is reportedly expected to sign with the Seattle Seahawks. Austin was surprisingly released by the Jets this week

Max Goodman

Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Another former Jets defensive back has ended up in Seattle.

Bless Austin, who was released by New York on Wednesday, is reportedly expected to sign with the Seahawks, reuniting with former Jets safety Jamal Adams.

Dave Wyman of Q13 Fox first reported Saturday night that Seattle had plans to sign the third-year corner. Brady Henderson of ESPN echoed that report later on Sunday afternoon.

Austin was a casualty of a numbers game in Florham Park as the Jets looked to increase the role of their young defensive backs. That left the Rutgers product out of their equation. Once New York was unable to find a partner to trade the corner, they elected to release him, making him a free agent with less than two weeks to go before the first game of the 2021 regular season.

Secondary Surprise: Jets Suddenly Release Expected Starter Bless Austin

The move surprised fans and pundits alike. Even veteran safety Marcus Maye was caught off guard by the sudden move. 

"I didn't see it coming at all. I don't think anybody did," Maye told reporters this past week. "It's tough. I mean, he's been a starter for us for the past two years. So I guess we just got to figure out what's next now."

In Austin's place, New York will be leaning heavily on rookies and second-year corners. There may be some low points in 2021 with a youthful secondary, but general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh are playing the long game here, hopeful that these added reps can accelerate the development of those inexperienced defensive backs.

"Instead of asking Bless to take a reduced role, we’re going to give these young guys an opportunity and out of respect to [Austin], give him an opportunity to find a larger role with another team," Douglas explained. "Very difficult decision because Bless is a standup guy and a hell of a competitor."

Now, Austin will have an opportunity to contend with Adams by his side in the NFC West. Austin and Adams played together in New York for one season—Austin's rookie year in 2019—before the safety was dealt to Seattle that offseason.

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Jets for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. He also covers the New York Yankees, publisher  of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Yankees site, Inside The Pinstripes. Before starting out with SI, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. While at school, Goodman gathered valuable experience as an anchor and reporter on NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. Goodman previously interned at MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman and connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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