With Super Bowl 60 just around the corner, the New England Patriots are staring down a major question mark on defense - and it comes in the form of edge rusher Harold Landry. Just over 48 hours before kickoff, Landry’s availability is officially in doubt after he was listed as a non-participant in Thursday’s practice. That’s not the kind of news the Patriots wanted heading into a showdown with a red-hot Seattle Seahawks offense.
Landry’s knee has been an issue for weeks now. He missed the final two games of the regular season, barely saw the field in the divisional round (just 11 snaps against Houston), and was ruled out entirely for the AFC Championship Game against Denver. Now, with the biggest game of the season on deck, his status is once again up in the air.
This is a tough blow for a player who’s been a key cog in New England’s defensive resurgence. After missing the entire 2022 season with a torn ACL, Landry bounced back in a big way in 2025, appearing in 17 games (15 starts) and leading the team with 8.5 sacks during the regular season. He’s been the kind of edge presence the Patriots were banking on when they signed him to a three-year, $45.3 million deal last offseason - a move that signaled just how serious they were about revamping a defense that ranked 22nd in both total and scoring defense the year before.
Now, they may have to face the NFC champs without him.
And that’s no small task. Seattle enters Super Bowl 60 as a 4.5-point favorite, up from the opening line of 3.5, and it’s easy to see why.
The Seahawks finished the regular season third in scoring at 28.4 points per game, and they’ve somehow turned it up another notch in the playoffs - averaging 36 points per contest in wins over the 49ers and Rams. Quarterback Sam Darnold is playing the best football of his career, completing nearly 70 percent of his passes for 470 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions this postseason.
He’s been sharp, efficient, and in total command of the offense.
But there’s still a blueprint for slowing him down - and Landry would be a big part of it.
During the regular season, Darnold struggled mightily under pressure. According to NFL Pro data, he lost 0.58 expected points per dropback when pressured - the sixth-worst mark among 33 qualifying quarterbacks.
That puts him in the company of guys like Mac Jones, Cam Ward, Joe Flacco, Aaron Rodgers, and Geno Smith when it comes to handling heat. In other words, if you can get to him, you can shake him.
That’s where Landry’s potential matchup becomes so intriguing. He’s typically lined up on the left edge, which would pit him against Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross - who gave up a team-high five sacks during the regular season. It’s a matchup that favors the Patriots on paper, but only if Landry is healthy enough to go.
If he can’t suit up, New England will need to lean on a trio of edge rushers to fill the void: K’Lavon Chaisson, Anfernee Jennings, and rookie Elijah Ponder. Chaisson and Jennings, both from the 2020 draft class, have combined for five sacks and 27 total pressures in the playoffs, while Ponder - an undrafted rookie out of FCS Cal Poly - has quietly impressed with eight pressures in just 59 pass-rush snaps. They’ve stepped up in recent weeks, but replacing Landry’s presence on the edge is no small ask.
The good news? The Patriots’ interior defensive line has been excellent.
Milton Williams and Christian Barmore are both having standout seasons, consistently collapsing the pocket and drawing attention from opposing offensive lines. That interior disruption could open things up for the edge rushers - if they can win their one-on-one matchups.
Ultimately, this game may come down to whether the Patriots can disrupt Darnold’s rhythm. Seattle’s offense is humming, and if Darnold is allowed to operate cleanly from the pocket, it could be a long night for New England. But if the Patriots can generate pressure - especially off the edge - they’ve got a real shot at pulling off the upset and claiming their record-setting seventh Lombardi Trophy.
Landry was brought in to be a difference-maker in games like this. He’s been a huge part of New England’s 10-win turnaround and their return to the NFL’s biggest stage. It would be a tough break for both him and the team if his knee keeps him from suiting up on Sunday.
For now, the Patriots have to prepare as if they’ll be without him - and hope that, come kickoff, they’re not.