FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts/notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Near miss: Right about the time Patriots players went to the locker room at halftime of their preseason opener Thursday, outside linebacker Matt Judon took a short detour through a different door -- for a medical check and X-rays on his left leg.
Thankfully for the team, it was precautionary as Judon rejoined his teammates on the sideline for the game's final 30 minutes.
Judon's preseason debut was one of the team's most promising developments -- he was physical, fast and disruptive in 12 snaps while registering a tackle and quarterback hit -- but it would have been overshadowed had Washington Football Team tight end Logan Thomas' lunge at his extended leg resulted in a significant injury.