Patriots' Judon refutes report he won't play: 'Didn't say that'

New England Patriots pass-rusher Matthew Judon is denying a report that says he'll refuse to play out the final year of his contract.

"What I can tell you is from the people that I've talked to, he is not going to play under his current contract," insider Greg Bedard said on "The Greg Bedard Patriots Podcast."

Judon appeared to take issue with Bedard's reporting in a post on X just hours after the episode aired, saying he "didn't say that."

Before yall get on my ass I didn't say that. At all don't let them make me the villain

- Matthew Judon (@man_dammn) July 13, 2024

Judon is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent as he enters the final year of his contract. The 31-year-old signed a four-year, $54.5-million contract in 2021 and will earn a $6.5-million base salary this season, per Over the Cap. The veteran linebacker skipped the Patriots' voluntary offseason workouts but did attend the team's mandatory minicamp.

Judon expressed doubt that he'll land an extension with New England earlier this month.

"(I don't) think that's about to happen," Judon posted on X.

The Patriots restructured Judon's contract last season to increase his guaranteed salary from $2 million to $14 million in 2023.

The veteran defender was limited to four games during the 2023 campaign after sustaining an elbow injury that caused him to miss the rest of the season.

Judon, who is set to embark on his fourth campaign with New England, has recorded 133 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, and 32 sacks in 38 games with the franchise.

Patriots veterans are due to report for training camp on July 23.

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