The New England Patriots are placing cornerback Stephon Gilmore on the physically unable to perform list, according to multiple reports. Gilmore won’t be able to return to practice until after Week 6. He didn’t participate in a single practice during training camp, minicamp or organized team activities session this offseason after suffering a torn quad injury that required surgery.
Gilmore has expressed discontent with his contract at multiple points this offseason. He is on the final year of a five-year deal and will make $7.7 million in new money in 2021.
Gilmore, who won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019, was among the Patriots’ best players in 2020 before he suffered his season-ending injury.
Patriots placing Pro Bowl CB Stephon Gilmore on the Physically Unable To Perform List, which means he will miss at least the first six games, per source. He is recovering from quad surgery at end of last season. His agent Jason Chayut of @SPORTSTARSNYC confirmed the move to ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 31, 2021
As I reported on air, Stephon Gilmore is headed for the PUP and will be unavailable to the #Patriots for the first 6 weeks of the season. He had quad surgery back in December but had been doing football related actives and running since late spring. #Patriots
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) August 31, 2021
At time of publication, New England had cornerbacks J.C. Jackson, Jalen Mills, Jonathan Jones, Shaun Wade and Joejuan Williams. (But it’s possible one or many of those players will get cut for the 53-man roster trim.)
