New England Patriots cornerback and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore might have dodged a bullet.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Gilmore will undergo surgery to repair a partially torn quad suffered during Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins. However, Gilmore avoided any structural damage to his knee.

The injury looked rather devastating in real time.

Gilmore buckled and went down to the turf, holding his left leg and staying down on the field. Considering it was a non-contact injury, there was reason to fear the worst.

However, this diagnosis means Gilmore will be ready in time for the start of the 2021 season, though he will miss the remainder of the 2020 campaign.

Gilmore had not been having the same kind of dominant season he had in 2019, though he was still quite impactful. In truth, opposing quarterbacks simply did not want to test the two-time All-Pro.

Rival signal-callers completed just over 56 percent of their attempts when targeting Gilmore, who saw 48 total targets in 11 games. That target share is a sharp decrease from last season, when the 30-year-old was targeted 101 times and led the NFL in passes defended (20) while also tying for the league lead in interceptions (6).

There had been rumors the Pats were open to moving the star corner ahead of last month's deadline, but only at an exceptionally high asking price.

Stephon Gilmore is under contract through the 2021 season and, as of now, will be healthy heading into the final year of his deal. He remains a pillar of New England's defense, pending the Pats do not move him in the spring.