New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore will miss the rest of the 2020 NFL season because of injury.
NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Gilmore suffered a partially torn quad in Sunday's Week 15 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. He'll need surgery to repair the issue, but his knee is OK, and he's expected to be back and ready for next season.
Gilmore left Sunday's matchup in the third quarter after suffering an apparent knee injury on a non-contact play. The veteran defensive back did not return to game action and the Patriots ultimately lost 22-12, eliminating them from playoff contention in the AFC.
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The 30-year-old cornerback won the AP's Defensive Player of the Year award last season. Gilmore has not played at that level in 2020, but he's still been a very good player in what has been a difficult season for the Patriots overall.
The Patriots will finish the regular season with two home games against AFC East rivals. They are scheduled to host the Buffalo Bills on "Monday Night Football" in Week 16 before finishing up against the New York Jets in Week 17.