Recently Released Patriots Defender Claimed By AFC Playoff Hopeful

The New England Patriots didn’t see a need for Marco Wilson’s services anymore. But an AFC playoff hopeful felt differently.

It didn’t take long for Wilson to find a new NFL home as he was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, according to the league’s transaction log, a day after being released by the Patriots.

Wilson routinely struggled this season with the Patriots and saw his playing time decrease over time serving as New England’s fourth cornerback behind Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones. Wilson played just nine defensive snaps in Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams and allowed three catches for 58 yards, per Pro Football Focus.

Wilson will try to turn things around with the Bengals, but it looks like he will be stuck down the depth chart with Cincinnati like he was with the Patriots. Cam Taylor-Britt, Josh Newton and Mike Hilton are all ahead of Wilson, leaving him to battle it out with DJ Ivey for playing time.

But the Bengals, who are on the outside of the playoff picture with a 4-7 record but have the high-end talent to make a run over the second half of the season, have to feel like they can get something out of Wilson or they wouldn’t have claimed him.