(Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
New England Patriots star pass rusher Matthew Judon didn’t get the chance to follow up on his dominant 15.5-sack season in 2022 after tearing his biceps just four games into his 2023 campaign, though he did put up four sacks in those four games.
Now that he is healing up, Judon is ready to return to form and at just 31 years of age is prepared to pick up right where he left off.
According to NFL.com, Judon has shared a message with the league putting them on notice, saying “I’m out for a vendetta” after his injury.
Patriots pass rusher Matt Judon ready for return to form after biceps injury: 'I'm out for a vendetta'https://t.co/Ii4E0h8saE pic.twitter.com/kDeZNsih0z
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) May 4, 2024
Judon also has the added motivation of heading into a contract year, and given his age he might have one more shot at securing a long-term bag.
The Pats’ defense was middle-of-the-road by most metrics last season, but they sorely needed Judon after posting just 36 sacks as a team, which was the sixth-fewest in the league.
Christian Barmore was the only player to log more than 4.5 sacks, so getting Judon back will elevate this defense to an entirely new level.
Judon has a $14.675 million cap hit this season in the last year of a 4-year, $54 million deal he signed with the Patriots.
He has been worth every penny so far, and 2023 was the first time he failed to play at least 14 games in a season in his entire career.
Judon should be back and better than ever, as a torn biceps is not an injury you’d expect to linger or sap him of any explosiveness.
