By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Patriots edge rusher Chase Winovich underwent hernia surgery back in February. The news was revealed as part of a new profile on the promising sophomore by Stan Grossfeld in the Boston Globe.
Winovich finished sixth among all NFL rookies with 5.5 sacks and 10 QB hits in his first season. He and Chandler Jones are the only Patriots under Bill Belichick to reach both of those marks as a rookie.
The former Michigan defensive end tells Grossfeld he’s been keeping himself busy with yoga, weights, and canoeing while he’s mostly stuck at home during the coronavirus lockdown. You can tell by at least one picture in the Globe that it looks like Winovich’s hernia is well in the past.
Chase Winovich appears fully recovered from hernia surgery in February. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
As one of the more promising young players of the past two seasons in New England, Winovich enters 2020 as one of the key figures to the team’s transition into the next era. The Patriots’ success in pass-rushing situations may revolve around the performance of the former Michigan edge rusher. And he now gets a chance to play with his former Wolverines teammate, Josh Uche, who became the highest draft pick to sign so far on Wednesday.
The hope is that Winovich can stay healthy during the season once again, as he did for 16 games as a rookie. For a Patriots team that may need to win a lot of games on defense, they’re going to need a productive Winovich as much as almost anybody.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.