Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski will undergo season-ending hip surgery
Dec 2, 2018; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots punter Ryan Allen (6) holds the ball for kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski’s move to the injured reserve will be for the remainder of the year, it would appear, as the 35-year-old will undergo season-ending hip surgery, Patriots’ kicker Stephen Gostkowski has a left hip injury that will require season-ending surgery, per source. He is expected to be ready to kick for the 2020 season.
The update on Gostkowski’s health comes on the heels of the Patriots officially placing the 14-year veteran on the injured reserve, and with the Patriots bringing in a pair of kickers for a Wednesday workout, which was seemingly (and strangely) denied by Patriots coach Bill Belichick during his exchange with NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran.
Gostkowski had gotten off to an oddly uncharacteristic start in 2019 prior to his move to the IR, with four extra-point misses on 15 tries this season, setting a new career-high in extra-point misses, and just four weeks into the new year.
The Patriots haven’t played without Gostkowski in their lineup since 2010, when Shayne Graham filled in for Gostkowski for eight games in the 2010 season. Graham made all 12 of his field goals in New England, and went 35-for-37 on extra points.
According to Schefter, Gostkowski will be expected to be ready to kick for the 2020 season.
