The New England Patriots are Super Bowl 60-bound, having defeated the Denver Broncos in a grind-it-out 10-7 victory in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, New England also suffered an ill-timed injury to defensive signal-caller Robert Spillane, leaving the Pats' linebacker room less than 100% with the Seattle Seahawks on the horizon.
Spillane injured his ankle while tackling Broncos running back R.J. Harvey in the first quarter. He did not return to the game. Given the issues he had with his lower extremities in the regular season, it's concerning to say the least — especially within the context of the LB room missing Harold Landry and Anfernee Jennings being a question mark given his health.
Luckily, executive vice president of player personnel and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf may have a backup plan fall into place.
Per the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, former Patriots EDGE Matt Judon is available. Being that he was most recently on the Buffalo Bills' practice squad, he is officially a free agent. Judon spent most of the 2025 season with the Miami Dolphins before signing with the Bills' practice squad before the playoffs.
Judon, with a reputation for being universally well-liked in Foxborough from his three years, was happy for the team after they clinched their first Super Bowl berth since 2019, sharing a tweet in support on Sunday. Now, it seems like the ex-Pat has a chance to join New England on its postseason run.
Enough Time Has Passed for Matthew Judon, Patriots to Reunite
It's not a secret that Judon's time with the Patriots didn't end on a great note. Per Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, the team's decision-makers "were just sick of him" on Judon's way out of New England. That was over 17 months ago, though, and as the old saying goes, "time heals all wounds."
Even though some might not view Judon as a great fit, his resume can't be ignored. The four-time Pro Bowl defender has racked up 72 sacks, nine forced fumbles, and 285 solo tackles throughout his 10-year career, and even has five games of playoff experience under his belt.
Sure, Judon didn't accomplish much with the Dolphins or Bills this season, but he did show some promise with six pressures in his last four games, per Pro Football Focus. Is that his best work? No, but it might entice the Patriots if Spillane or Jennings aren't healthy enough to play in the Super Bowl.
Judon was one of the bright spots of the late Bill Belichick era, and it might be worth seeing what he can do with the current team. Yes, he was a locker room concern during the Jerod Mayo era, but that's over, and head coach Mike Vrabel has proven that he can get everyone on the same page when it matters.
So, if the Patriots have the opportunity to add a fully-committed and focused Judon to their roster in the coming days, they must pounce on it — especially if it means making the Seahawks' life a bit harder.