FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 26: Cory Durden #94 of the New England Patriots reacts during the third quarter of a game against the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
(Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 26: Cory Durden #94 of the New England Patriots reacts during the third quarter of a game against the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Even before the gut-punch injury to star Patriots defensive lineman Milton Williams, who was put on injured reserve this weekend after he suffered a high ankle sprain on the first series of Thursday’s Week 11 win over the Jets, New England had begun to work third-year journeyman Cory Durden into the rotation along the defensive front more and more.
Durden, undrafted in 2023 after a five-year collegiate career split between Florida State and North Carolina State, originally signed with the Lions and was cut after his first training camp. He landed with the Rams, though, and appeared in four games, then on to the Giants last year, when he also played four games.
Things have taken a positive turn, though, since he left New York.
Patriots Signed Cory Durden in August
The Patriots added Durden to the practice squad at the end of August, after he’d been a final-day cut by the Giants. And it’s paying off. Durden played seven snaps in his first two weeks with the Patriots, but his playing time has steadily increased since. He played 30 snaps in Week 10 against Tampa, and with Williams going down in Week 11, he played a career-high 34 snaps.
And he has played well. The sample size and methodology isn’t perfect, but Pro Football Focus rates him the No. 12 defensive lineman in the league, with a grade of 75.4 this season. He is fifth among D-linemen in pass rushing, rating just below the likes of Cam Heyward and Dexter Lawrence, and just ahead of Chris Jones.
Mike Vrabel Praised Cory Durden Before Milton Williams Injury
Now, in the absence of Williams for the next four weeks, the spotlight will be on Durden, who will surely get credit as the kind of culture-changing addition Patriots coach Mike Vrabel has been looking for.
Even before the Williams injury, Vrabel had been talking up the 26-year-old Durden.
“I think he’s excited about playing,” Vrabel said. “I think he brings a good size, good physicality, good energy. It seems like he’s always excited after every play or the plays that he’s involved with. So, I think he’s one of those players that’s, like a lot of guys, taking advantage of the opportunity that he’s gotten and was somewhere else, they made a decision, we were able to bring him in, quickly elevate him and bring him on, and he’s done a good job.”
New England Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams
GettyNew England Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams
Patriots Could Get Milton Williams Back in Late December
The hope, of course, is that Williams can make a speedy return from the IR, which requires him to miss four games. With the bye week, that will put Williams out for a total of 45 days before he can get back on the field, and will require him to miss big tests against the Bills and Ravens in Weeks 14 and 15.
But it is also ample time for Williams to get the ankle right and gear up for the final two weeks, against the Jets and Dolphins before what the Patriots are now hoping is a long playoff jaunt.
Cory Durden will be a key in replacing Williams alongside Christian Barmore up front. The injury could mean that the Patriots reel back the playing time they’ve given lineman Khyiris Tonga at fullback. It’s also expected that rookie Joshua Farmer will get some opportunity, too.