New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore sustained a non-contact leg injury during their Week 15 tilt against the Miami Dolphins. Apparently, it didn't turn out to be as bad as it was initially expected, but he is still expected to miss the remainder of the regular season, per NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport.
The injury certainly looked bad when it first happened:
From @GMFB: The #Chiefs have some hope that RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire can return for the playoffs, while #Patriots star CB Stephon Gilmore is expected to be done for the regular season for an injury that wasn't as bad as feared. pic.twitter.com/kFMrITmR9l
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 21, 2020
After lining up on defense against an opposing receiver, Gilmore slipped on the run and tweaked his leg in the process, crumpling to the field in a heap. The 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year hopped off the field before halftime and finished the game with two total tackles. The Dolphins eventually took advantage of Gilmore's absence and manufactured big scoring outputs in the second half of the game.
It turned out to be a huge blow for the Patriots, as they also failed to answer on the offensive end and ultimately succumbed to a 22-12 loss. The Dolphins improved to a 9-5 record to boost their chances to snag a playoff spot, while the Patriots plummeted to a 6-8 win-loss tally and got eliminated from playoff contention.
This is the first time New England hasn't qualified for the playoffs since 2008. The Buffalo Bills are the kings of the AFC East this season with their 11-3 record.
With the Patriots eliminated from playoff contention, there's little reason to have Gilmore play at this point, even if the injury isn't that bad. New England finishes up the season with games against the Bills and New York Jets.
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