Patriots outside linebacker Matt Judon is expected to miss at least two months with the torn bicep tendon he suffered last Sunday, according to the NFL Network.
Judon will undergo surgery on Wednesday, per reports. ESPN reports Judon wants to return and play again this season, but there are doubts whether he can or will. His exact recovery timeline will be determined after Wednesday’s surgery.
In the meantime, Judon, a four-time Pro Bowler, will be out indefinitely. It’s all but assured he will soon land on injured reserve and create an open roster spot.
The 31-year-old tore his bicep while attempting an arm tackle of Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 38-3 defeat. He finished with one tackle and two QB hits. Judon got hurt after the Patriots had pulled quarterback Mac Jones trailed 31-3, though coach Bill Belichick said post-game the staff didn’t discuss removing their star pass rusher.
Since his arrival in 2021, Judon has widely been considered the best player on the team. He leads the Patriots with four sacks and has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons.
Second-round rookie Keion White and fourth-year edge rushers Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings are expected to see some of his snaps moving forward. The Patriots also lost starting rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez to a reported dislocated shoulder on Sunday. His timeline remains unclear.
After the game, captain Deatrich Wise described Judon’s loss as “devastating,” but said he was in good spirits in the locker room.
“We will be with him mentally throughout this year, and I know he’ll be with us, too,” Wise said. “There will be some guys behind him who will be stepping up and filling in his spot.”
