The New England Patriots have received a tough update from training camp, as they are now set to play the new season without one of their promising defenders.
It was on Tuesday that the team made it known that Marcellas Dial Jr., a second-year cornerback, tore his ACL and will be out for the entire season.
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This development is even more troubling because other cornerbacks like Carlton Davis III and Christian Gonzalez are currently dealing with injuries too. This situation leaves the Patriots thin at the cornerback position going into the campaign.
Finding a Suitable Replacement for Marcellas Dial Jr. Will Not Be Simple
Bringing in someone to fill Dial’s role won’t be a walk in the park, especially considering he was available for every game last season.
Although most top free agents are no longer on the market at this point, there are still a few experienced cornerbacks left who could be useful. One of them is quite familiar to the New England supporters and may be just what the team needs.
If experience is what the Patriots are going for, bringing back Stephon Gilmore could be the most logical step. The 34-year-old corner recently shared his belief that he can still play at a high level in the NFL.
For someone who enjoyed some of his brightest seasons in a Patriots uniform, another spell in Foxborough might suit both sides well.
Gilmore began his NFL journey in 2012 after the Buffalo Bills made him the 10th pick in the draft. He spent five seasons with the Bills and earned a Pro Bowl selection before joining the Patriots in 2017 on a five-year deal.
During his time in New England, Gilmore started in 56 games and delivered 161 solo tackles, 52 pass deflections, 11 interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, and three forced fumbles.
His efforts earned him three additional Pro Bowl nods, two All-Pro first-team selections, the 2019 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, and a Super Bowl LIII championship.
In 2021, the Patriots sent Gilmore to the Carolina Panthers. Since then, he’s had short stays with the Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, and, most recently, the Minnesota Vikings.
Although those teams didn’t bring him the same level of individual recognition, his performance has remained reliable. Gilmore received a coverage grade of 69.3 or above from Pro Football Focus in three of the last four seasons.
