The Patriots’ defense has been hit hard by injuries lately, including the torn bicep suffered by pass rusher Matt Judon. The four-time Pro Bowler is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery, and it is doubtful he will be able to return this season.
Judon is likely facing a six-month recovery timeline, as noted by ESPN’s Dan Graziano. That would, of course, shut him down for the remainder of the season – something which would also carry financial implications for him given the nature of his restructured contract. The 31-year-old has expressed a desire to play again this year, though, and Graziano adds he and the Patriots are exploring a recovery path similar to that of Steelers star T.J. Watt.
The latter suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2 of last year, an injury which usually shuts players down for the season. The former Defensive Player of the Year managed to recover in time to play in Week 9, however, which helped spark a late-season playoff push in Pittsburgh. Judon will attempt to emulate that, but for now it appears unlikely he will be able to do so.
Here are some other edge-related notes from around the league:
- Chase Young and Montez Sweat form the foundation of the pass rush contingent for the Commanders, but one has played to their potential far more than the other. Despite being a former No. 2 pick, Young is in line to reach free agency in March since his fifth-year option was declined amidst major injury concerns and an inability to follow up on an encouraging rookie season. Sweat is likewise in need of a new deal, as he is playing on his $11.5MM option in 2023. Of the two, SI’s Albert Breer expects the latter to be targeted for a long-term second contract over Young. Breer explains that Sweat – who already has 4.5 sacks in 2023, bringing him halfway to matching his single-season high – will likely be easier to extend than Young. With big-money commitments to defensive linemen Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen already in place, Washington would be hard pressed to retain both Sweat and Young on multi-year pacts.
- Facing a number of injury concerns amongst their outside linebackers, the Ravens recently signed Kyle Van Noy to serve in a depth capacity. The veteran has proven to be an effective hybrid defender, and his playing time should increase given the fact 2022 second-rounder David Ojabo could miss the rest of the campaign. Van Noy’s arrival in Baltimore could have come much sooner, though. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes that the Ravens tried to sign 32-year-old this offseason, but the sides couldn’t agree on compensation. That opened the door to the team’s Jadeveon Clowney acquisition, but the pair are now in place together. Each will have a role to play as the Ravens look to maintain a top-10 sack total (13 through four games) through the remainder of the year.
- The Bears ended their 14-game losing streak last night, but the team’s defensive struggles were deserving of much of the blame for the skid reaching that length. The unit has been hampered in recent years by a lack of established edge rushing options, which made Chicago’s Yannick Ngakoue August signing an unsurprising one. The 28-year-old’s one-year, $10MM pact has led to a pair of sacks so far, but as a team Chicago has registered only seven to date. As a result, defensive end will be a priority in the 2024 offseason, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. The 1-4 Bears will have chances in free agency and the draft to add much-needed contributors on the edge, regardless of if Ngakoue is retained.
I felt pretty strongly at the time that the perfect move for Washington would have been to have traded down from the second pick. They had a strong defensive line at the time, but were sorely lacking in both the secondary and in offensive weapons. Doing a reverse RGIII, so to speak, would have been the far superior move, in my mind.
There were a lot of good players available that could have addressed any one of several needs that Rivera had to start his rebuild. I don’t say this just to kick dirt on the move, but it would have been great to see a team effectively use a high pick to address multiple needs to progress a rebuild.
Methinks Rivera won’t be there next year for his rebuild.
To clarify, I was referring to Washington’s strategy at the time of Chase Young’s selection in 2020. They had just hired Rivera (I didn’t like that hire for Rivera either, because I didn’t think that it was a good situation for him, especially after he had just been unceremoniously dumped by Carolina), and I thought that they needed a lot more than to add another player to their only position group of strength. Defensive line was the only place where Washington was set that year.
I don’t see why anyone from DC’s D gets signed. Chicago treated them like a JV team last night. How many first round 1’s are on their D; 5-6? They got blown out last night, and pretty much all season.
The Bears probably contacted Rivera prior to the game and promised him a DC interview next offseason (when Ron will be unemployed) if he got his defense to take the night off. Rivera and the Bears have a past history so a reunion wouldn’t be out of the question.
One option for the new owners would be to cut Rivera loose and let Bienemy audition the rest of the season. This is season 4 for Ron and every season looks the same. If Bienemy can keep developing Howell and get a DC next year that runs a modern defense, they could win some games.
If they don’t progress in the next several games, I think that’s probably a solid idea.
I think the reason for the 5 sacks was because Eberflus abandoned his stupid rush 4 all the time and actually brought more guys. The Commanders were probably stunned and couldn’t believe what they were seeing. I know I was. At least I believe that more than I believe they did it for Dick Butkus.
I agree with you both regarding the potential. I will say that, in Rivera’s defense, his first three years were held back by the Snyder and his hirelings in the organization. In the sense that he was brought in to change the culture, it is sort of impossible to do so when the tonesetters remain in place. Not to mention-and this can’t be proven fully either way-but Snyder had a reputation for interfering with operations and acquisitions for the team itself. In essence, this year is sort of a first year audition for him, as well.
Now, do I expect Rivera to be successful at this point? No, not really. If he had walked in to Washington this year, he perhaps would have had a better shot, but that still doesn’t guarantee anything. Does Rivera deserve some blame for everything being, as you said, the same? Yes, he is the head coach after all. I don’t think that he’ll be there long, and as you’ve pointed out, Bienemy may as well get a chance to prove that he can-or cannot-handle the responsibility of leading a team from the top. Rivera may be a good or bad coach, but he is a good leader. Bienemy may as well get a chance to show his ability to do the same if Rivera is let go. After all, that drubbing by Chicago certainly did not give Rivera any props for inspiring the team’s effort. I think rondos is right with using the next few games as the measuring stick.
I knew Rivera was a lame duck all offseason. That’s also why they elected to start Howell (w/o really a competition). A 5th round QB w/ 1 career start; they’re tanking.
The new ownership wants their hand picked GM, HC, & QB combo. It will be a reset for the high profile jobs next offseason.
I wouldn’t be surprised if their 2 DE’s are traded before the deadline. Grab as many picks as they can for Sweat and Young, while clearing the books.
So by tanking you mean losing on purpose? So the owners – businessmen btw, who just paid $6 billion for a team, who are trying to bring back disgruntled fans, who are trying to turn the team (business) around are now going sabotage their own business all for a draft pick that nets 1 player?
Howell was projected as a late 1st/early 2nd going into the ’22 draft, but had a horrible showing in the senior bowl mostly due the O-line he was playing behind got blown up on every play and had to scramble around and try to throw to receivers he had all of 3 partial practices with.
Where he was drafted has nothing to do with anything. Would they not be tanking if they drafted Matt Corral or Malik Willis in the 3rd and were starting them instead?
Is San Fran tanking because they’re starting a 7th round QB over a guy they gave up 3 1st’s and a 2nd for and they just traded away?