Gilmore done for year with torn quad
Three Pats named to Pro Bowl team
Patriots star cornerback StEpHon GilmorE is expected to miss the rest of the season with a partially torn right quad, according to an NFL Network report Monday.
Gilmore tore his quad late in the second quarter of Sunday’s 22-12 loss at Miami. He is scheduled to undergo surgery today. The team originally reported Gilmore had suffered a knee injury, but he sustained no structural damage to his knee, according to the report. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is expected to make a full recovery and participate in some portion of the Patriots’ offseason program.
“His knees are fine, the quad should heal, and he’ll he back to 100% long before next season,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Monday.
Pats coach Bill Belichick was asked to confirm Gilmore’s injury during his weekly radio appearance on WEEI’s “Ordway, Merloni & Fauria,” but declined, saying medical reports would be available at the end of the day. The team did not make any injury-related transactions or announcements Monday.
With the Patriots eliminated from playoff contention, Gilmore will only miss their final two regular-season games. The 30-yearold missed three games earlier this season with a knee injury and also overcame a bout with COVID-19.
He will finish the season with one interception, a forced fumble, three pass deflections and 15 tackles over 11 game appearances. Gilmore became a twotime All-Pro and threetime Pro Bowler with the Patriots. He has one year remaining on his contract in New England.
Pats get 3 Pro Bowlers
Gilmore, special teams captain Matthew Slater and punter Jake Bailey were selected to the 2021 Pro Bowl on Monday night.
Gilmore was named to his third straight Pro Bowl and the fourth of his career after starting 11 games. He was recognized for being one of the rare shutdown corners in the league, who still shadows opponents’ No. 1 wideouts during games.
Slater was honored for the ninth time of his career, extending his NFL record for most special teams Pro Bowl selections. Slater has tied Hall of Fame offensive lineman JohN HaNNah for the second-most Pro Bowl honors in franchise history, trailing only Tom Brady (14).
Slater has five special teams tackles this season and helped down several of the two dozen punts the Patriots have settled inside opponents’ 20-yard line.
Bailey earned his first Pro Bowl nod in just his second season. The former fifth-round pick has dropped a higher percentage of his punts inside the 20 than any other punter who’s started at least a dozen games this year. Bailey ranks second in the NFL in net punt average at 46.1 yards. He’s currently on pace to set franchise records for net and gross punt averages. Bailey also kicks off for the Patriots and holds on field goals.
Until the final week of fan voting. Pats center David Andrews had been the leading vote-getter at his position in the AFC. Pro Bowl selections are annually determined by a combination of fan, player and coach votes.
Instead of a game this season, the 2021 Pro Bowl will be held as a week-long virtual event featuring the AFC and NFC all-stars, celebrities and NFL legends. The week will culminate with Pro Bowl players competing within a game played on Madden NFL 21, which will be streamed so fans can watch across several platforms.