Patriots’ defense still brings pressure vs. Eagles after trading Matthew Judon
FOXBORO — No pressure, but the Patriots will need second-year pro Keion White to replace a four-time Pro Bowler this season.
White’s strong summer continued into Thursday’s 14-13 preseason loss to the Eagles when he made quick work out of Eagles tackle Max Scharping on a sack and brought pressure on another near-sack of backup QB Kenny Pickett. It was against Eagles backup offensive linemen, but it was still a promising performance from the 2023 second-round pick in a training camp full of them.
“I remember I just beat him off the edge,” White said of his sack. “I beat him off the edge and just not let Kenny out, because he’s pretty elusive.”
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The 6-foot-5, 290-pound defensive end is a freak athlete with the rare ability to stand up, playing outside linebacker at his frame. He dominated at times last summer in training camp, but it didn’t translate into the 2023 season. With a full season under his belt, there’s a better chance that he could take over snaps left vacant when the Patriots traded Matthew Judon to the Falcons for a 2025 third-round pick.
“The Eagles are a big vertical setting team, so we just tried to push the pocket and corral them in there and not really give them any escape lanes,” White said Thursday. “I’m pretty familiar with Kenny’s game, because I played against him at Pitt. And I understand how elusive he is, so you can just collapse the pocket and force him in there and actually make the throws, you can be a real beneficial rush overall.”
White wasn’t the only potential Judon replacement to shine on Thursday.
Josh Uche, who will maintain a third-down pass-rushing role, at the least, in defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington’s defense, had a sack. Outside linebacker Oshane Ximines, who all but locked up a roster spot when Judon was traded, produced his second straight disruptive preseason game, pressuring Pickett and sacking fourth-stringer Will Grier. Veteran defensive end Deatrich Wise, who’s expected to be another top contributor on the edge, registered his second sack in as many preseason games. Slot cornerback Isaiah Bolden was also credited for sack, bringing down Pickett before the line of scrimmage on a scramble, while defensive tackles Trysten Hill and Jeremiah Pharms brought pressure in the first half.
“I would say if you watch the defensive film against the Eagles (in practice) they had their starters in there and we still were able to generate a good amount of pass rush,” Mayo said Thursday after the Patriots’ loss.
The Patriots were forced to play without Judon for 13 games last season as he nursed a torn biceps, so replacing him is nothing new. Outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings, who started and assisted on a tackle for loss, is another potential replacement for Judon.
The Patriots are still confident in their pass-rushing package even without the perennial Pro Bowler.
“As you can see we still — it’s a next-man up mentality, we got good guys behind him like Josh Uche, Oshane Ximines off the edge,” White said. “And then, we just feel like we gotta do what we gotta do.”
“Completely confident,” Ximines added. “We put the work in every single day. I just feel like we can get it done.”
Ximines has known White longer than the rest of the defensive end’s Patriots teammates. The two were teammates at Old Dominion in 2017 and 2018 when White was a tight end before transferring to Georgia Tech and switching positions.
“That’s my guy,” Ximines said. “That’s my little brother. Just to see what he’s emerged into through the years, it’s amazing. He’s going to be a real force this year. I can’t wait to watch him.”