Update: New England Patriots' Matthew Judon Returning This Season?

Will linebacker Matthew Judon return to action for the New England Patriots before the end of this season?

FOXBORO — Might the 2-10 New England Patriots soon be receiving a morale boost from the return of their top defensive player?

In the wake of a demoralizing 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13, Pats coach Bill Belichick seemingly left the door open to the possibility when speaking about the prospects of linebacker Matthew Judon making an on-field comeback prior to the season’s end. 

“We’ll see. That’s a good question,” Belichick told reporters on Monday via videoconference. “That’s also a medical question. I know he’s working hard. Matt has been in here. He works hard on a daily basis. But, again that’s a medical question that I wouldn’t be able to answer.”

Judon left New England’s Week 4 contest against the Dallas Cowboys with 13:45 left the fourth quarter while attempting to make a tackle on second-and-11 at the Dallas 25. He appeared to get his arm caught on a Cowboys blocker and fell to the ground. Judon remained down while holding his elbow/forearm before quickly heading to the blue medical tent. He was then led to the locker room for further evaluation. Within the coming days, Judon underwent surgery to repair his torn biceps, while being placed on injured reserve. 

At the time of his injury, Judon was New England’s most accomplished defensive player. In just four games, he led the Patriots with nine quarterback hits, and five tackles for loss, four sacks and one safety. Despite having been away from the field for nine weeks, Judon is still tied for the team lead in sacks with Christian Barmore and Ja’Whaun Bentley — while holding the outright top spot in quarterback hits.

Since his arrival in Foxboro during the 2021 offseason, Judon has routinely proven that he possesses the versatility and adaptability to have earned the spot as the team’s number one player on the edge. The 30-year-old’s on-field awareness puts him in position to keep runs from reaching the corner on early downs, as well as providing speed and strength when rushing the quarterback. In his first year with the Pats, Judon amassed 60 tackles, one fumble recovery and 12.5 sacks. He eclipsed those totals in 2022 — e a career-high 15.5 sacks, two forced fumbles (recovering one), while once again logging 60 total tackles.

New England Patriots LB Matthew Judon / Cred: USA Today Images

However, as impressive as he has been as an individual defender, Judon has also proven to be a significant facilitator for his teammates. In 2021, he was quite effective when reading opposing coverages, particularly the offensive line coverage of the aforementioned Barmore. By positioning himself close to Barmore [thus enabling him to draw the attention of opposing blockers,] Judon was often left one-on-one on the edge to make life uncomfortable for opposing quarterbacks. Last season, Judon himself played the decoy for linebacker Josh Uche, who set a career-high in sacks with 11.5. Together, the pair formed one of the top pass-rushing tandems in the NFL.

Without Judon in the lineup, the Pats pass rush has been less fearsome, with Uche having logged only eight tackles and two sacks in 10 games. However, the Pats defense continues to perform at a high level, holding their last three opponents to 13 combined points — and doing so despite the putrid efforts of their counterparts on offense. Even if Judon is medically cleared for a return to action, one would be justified in questioning whether his long-term health would be best served by suiting up for a team which has long since fallen out of contention, while keeping the defensive ship afloat for the time being.  

'The Emperor Has ... A Hoodie': Belichick's 'Tough-Guy Act' Fading

If Judon remains sidelined for the Pats remaining five games in 2023, he will join cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones, as well as receiver Kendrick Bourne in suffering season-ending injuries. With running back Rhamondre Stevenson also facing the prospect of missing multiple weeks due to an ankle injured suffered during Sunday’s loss to the Chargers, Judon and the Pats have some decisions to make in the coming days. 

Meanwhile, the Pats will quickly turn the page to the Pittsburgh Steelers and their Thursday night matchup at Acrisure Stadium, on a short week of preparation. 

---