The New England Patriots welcomed back cornerback Cory Trice Jr. to the practice field on Wednesday, marking a key step in his recovery — though he still officially remains on the Reserve/Injured, Designated for Return list.
Trice, a 2023 seventh-round pick out of Purdue, has been sidelined since the summer after suffering a lower-body injury that landed him on injured reserve before Week 1. His return to practice opens a 21-day window during which the Patriots can evaluate his readiness before deciding whether to activate him to the 53-man roster.
Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed Trice’s participation but urged caution, noting the team will monitor how he responds to increased workload. “It’s great to have Cory back out there,” Vrabel said. “He’s worked hard through the rehab process. We’ll take it one day at a time.”
Trice flashed serious potential during his rookie training camp last year — his size (6-3, 210 lbs), length, and physicality made him a standout in coverage drills. Unfortunately, his season was derailed by a knee injury, delaying what many expected to be an early breakout opportunity.
With the Patriots’ secondary already undergoing several shakeups — including the recent extension for Marcus Jones and the trades of Kyle Dugger and Keion White — Trice’s return could prove timely. The defense is thin on outside corner depth, and Trice’s ability to play both press-man and zone concepts fits perfectly within Vrabel’s evolving defensive schemes.
If all goes well, Trice could be activated as soon as mid-November, providing a late-season reinforcement to a defense that’s been surprisingly consistent despite major turnover.
For now, though, he remains officially on injured reserve while the Patriots’ medical and coaching staff assess his readiness.
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