Bill Belichick in trouble as New England Patriots suffer huge double injury blow
Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots have been handed a double injury blow to two key players.
The Patriots have endured a difficult start to the 2023 NFL regular season, going 1-3 after the first four games. The most recent game resulted in a 38-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at the AT&T Stadium.
To make matters worse for the Patriots, the loss in Dallas also saw two of the team’s most important players on defense sustain injuries. Rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez and linebacker Matthew Judon both left the field during the defeat to the Cowboys.
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A report from ESPN has stated that the Patriots expect both Gonzalez and Judon to be on the sidelines indefinitely. Gonzalez was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for his performances in September.
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The report states that Judon has sustained a torn lower biceps tendon in his right arm. The linebacker suffered the injury reaching his arm out in an attempt to tackle Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn.
Gonzalez has sustained a shoulder injury, although the severity is not fully known at this time. The rookie cornerback sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of the loss to the Cowboys and was initially listed as questionable to return before being ruled out.
Belichick was asked about the injuries to Gonzalez and Judon in his post-game press conference on Sunday. However, in his response to reporters, the Patriots head coach simply replied: “We'll see."
The Patriots will now face an uncertain future as to when two of their star players on defense will return. And given the team is already 1-3 after a heavy defeat in Dallas, pressure is only likely to increase on Belichick.
Prior to the start of the season, there was increased uncertainty around the future of the Patriots. A major factor in that has been the current state of the AFC East division.
The Buffalo Bills have a franchise quarterback in Josh Allen who will believe is capable of leading the team to a championship. The New York Jets signed Aaron Rodgers in a bid to do the same, although the Achilles tendon injury has since altered expectations. Plus, the Miami Dolphins have started the season 3-1 and have quarterback Tua Tagovailoa earmarked as an early NFL MVP candidate.
The Patriots have Mac Jones as the starting quarterback, but it is now the fourth season since Tom Brady was at Foxborough. Since the exit of the seven-time Super Bowl winner, the Patriots have reached the post-season just twice and only gone as far as the wild card round on two occasions.
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