Free agent defensive end Andre Carter was the Patriots’ best pass rusher for the majority of the 2011 season. He racked up 10 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles in 14 games.
But Carter tore his left quadriceps on December 18, and was lost for the season’s remainder. And he’s still nursing the injury.
According to Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald, Carter is still “limping heavily” more than three months after the muscle tear. Carter was in Foxboro on Saturday for a medical checkup.
As evidenced by his 2011 performance, a healthy Carter can still bring plenty of pass-rushing pressure going on age 33. It sounds like he’s nowhere near 100 percent, however.
And that explains why Carter has not yet been signed.