Veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones will have season-ending shoulder surgery on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Although the precise injury has not been made public, Rapoport has claimed that it will prevent him from playing for the rest of the year.
Jones, who is 28 years old, sustained the injury early in New England’s game on October 17 against the Dallas Cowboys. Jones didn’t practice the following week after sitting out the rest of the game, and on October 23 he was finally placed on injured reserve.
Jones’ six-year career has seen him progress from an undrafted free agent to a crucial part of numerous championship defenses.
Prior to this season, he had missed just one a game in his whole career, and his toughness and capacity to silence opposing slot receivers helped him land a three-year, $21 million contract extension in September 2019.
Jones has made 261 tackles, seven interceptions, 33 pass deflections, five forced fumbles, and has started 26 of his 85 career games.
Only five cornerbacks are now active in New England’s poor secondary, according to J.C. The practice squad is made up of Jackson, Jalen Mills, Joejuan Williams, Myles Bryant, Shaun Wade, and D’Angelo Ross. Last week, New England hosted three free agent cornerbacks for workouts, but none of them were added to the team’s active roster.