New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the NFL’s defensive player of the year, left Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins late in the second quarter with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
Gilmore stood on the surface of the natural grass at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium as he backed away, and his right leg gave way. The contact injury, which occurred outside the play, caused Gilmore to be assisted in the locker room. He was unable to press his right leg.
The Patriots officially ruled out Gilmore for the game in the second half.
A possible serious injury to Gilmore, 30, could complicate his future in New England as he enters the final year of his contract. Gilmore is expected to earn $ 7 million in base salary, a low figure for a player of his stature and the result that the club has advanced him $ 5 million from 2021 to his 2020 salary in September.
Since then, there has been widespread expectation that the Patriots and Gilmore will meet again at the negotiating table during the offseason.
Gilmore initially signed a five-year, $ 65 million deal with the Patriots in 2017 after spending the first five years of his career at the Buffalo Bills.