The New England Patriots experienced an ugly 38-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Unfortunately for Bill Belichick and the Patriots defense, the game might’ve also cost Matthew Judon the remainder of his season.
Judon, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, has been one of the best pass rushers in the AFC since he signed with New England before the 2021 season. In 37 games for the Patriots, the 6-foot-3 edge rusher is credited with 60 QB hits, 33 tackles for loss and 32 sacks.
- Matthew Judon stats 2023: 7 QB hits, 5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks
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The 31-year-old has proven instrumental in the defense’s success. In 2022, New England had the seventh-highest pressure rate (24.1%) and third-most sacks (54) in the NFL. Off to a strong start this season, the Patriots might now lose one of their best players.
Judon left Sunday’s game with a biceps injury, which the team quickly ruled him out with a short time later. Unfortunately for New England, the Pro Bowl edge rusher is now poised to miss significant time.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Judon suffered a lower bicep tendon tear during Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys. Unfortunately for New England, he is expected to miss time but there’s no timetable on exactly how long he’ll be sidelined.
As noted by Chad Graff of The Athletic, other NFL players who had the same kind of injury as Judon often underwent surgery and missed the remainder of the season. While New England won’t provide any definitive answers until this week, Judon’s immediate absence is a huge blow defensively.
New England was already hurting defensively entering Sunday. Jonathan Jones was inactive in Week 4, while fellow defensive backs Marcus Jones and Jack Jones are on injured reserve. To make matters worse, standout rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez left Sunday’s game with a dislocated shoulder.
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It leaves the Patriots’ defense in a terrible position moving forward. Already thin at cornerback, New England could now be without its top cornerback for the immediate future. While a strong pass rush could lessen the damage, the Patriots likely won’t have that with Judon sidelined.