Josh Uche

Josh Uche was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round (60th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

• Josh Uche was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round (60th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.

SEASONAL REVIEW

2022 (15/0)

• Sees time in the linebacker rotation.
• Part of the defensive unit that pitched a shutout vs. Detroit (10/9), who entered the game with the top-ranked offense in the NFL. Had one solo tackle in the game.
• Was inactive due to injury at Cleveland (10/16).
• Was inactive due to injury vs. Chicago (10/24).
• Returned to action at N.Y. Jets (10/30) after missing two games due to injury. Registered his fifth career sack and first of the season with a fourth quarter sack of QB Zach Wilson. It was his first sack sine the game at the Jets on Sept. 19, 2021. Three of his five sacks of have come against the Jets.
• Registered a career-high three sacks vs. Indianapolis (11/6) after dropping Colts QB Sam Ehlinger for a 2-yard loss and an 8-yard loss in the second quarter and a 1-yard sack in the third quarter. It is his second games with at least two sacks. He had his first two-sack game after registering two fourth quarter sacks at t N.Y. Jets on Sept. 19, 2021. LB Matthew Judon also had three sacks in the game. It was the second time in team history that the Patriots have had two players reach three sacks in a game. Don Blackmon and Andre Tippett each had a three-sack game on Sept. 9, 1985 vs. Green Bay. Judon and Uche are the first Patriots players with three sacks in a game since DL Deatrich Wise JR. had three sacks at vs. Baltimore on Sept. 25, 2022. It is the first game with a pair of teammates with at least three sacks since Aaron Donald and Troy Reeder in Week 5 of the 2020 season with the Los Angeles Rams. His sacks were three of the nine sacks the defense had, which is a season high and tied for the most under Coach Belichick. All three of his sacks came on third down to force a punt, a field goal attempt that was missed and another punt. Key part of the defensive unit that forced the Colts to go 0-for-14 on third down and allowed just 121 total yards of offense. Recorded six total tackles (5 solo, 1 assist).
• Was part of the defensive unit vs. N.Y. Jets (11/20) that held the Jets to just 103 total yards, the third-fewest yards allowed in Patriots history, only two total yards in the second half, the fewest ever allowed in a half in Patriots history, only six first touchdowns and no touchdowns.
• Had a 9-yard sack at Minnesota (11/24).
• Had his third career multi-sack game and second of the 2022 season vs. Buffalo (12/1) after a sack in the first quarter and forced fumble on sack in the second quarter. Had three sacks vs. Indianapolis on Nov. 6, 2022 and had two sacks at the New York Jets on Sept. 19, 2021. He has had at least one sack in four of the last five games. Has a career-high 7 sacks so far in 2022, all in the last five games.Had seven total tackles (6 solo, 1 assist) in the game.
• Had his second 3-sack game of the 2022 season at Arizona (12/12). He also had three sacks at the New York Jets on Oct. 30. Andre Tippett (3 in 19856 and 3 in 1987) and Mike Vrabel (2 in 2007) are the only Patriots players with multiple 3-sack games in a season. Had two sacks vs. Buffalo on Dec. 1 and followed that game with three sacks against Arizona. He is the first Patriots player since Trey Flowers in 2016 to have back-to-back games with at least two sacks. Flowers had two sacks at Buffalo (10/30) followed by two sacks vs. Seattle (11/13). With LB Matt Judon leading the team with 14 ½ sacks and Uche reaching 10 sacks, the Patriots have two players reach double-digit sacks for the fourth time in team history (1977, 1985, 2011 and 2022). In 1977 Tony McGee (12.0) and Ray Hamilton (10.0) finished with double digit sacks, in 1985 Andre Tippett (16.5) and Garin Veris (10.0) reached at least 10 sacks and then in 2011 Andre Carter (10.0) and Mark Anderson (10.0) both reached double-digit sacks.
• Sacked QB Derek Carr for a 5-yard loss in the fourth quarter at Las Vegas (12/18) for his 11th sack of the season. He now has six sacks in a three-game span, second most in team history. Uche had 2 sacks vs. Buffalo on Dec. 1, 3 sacks at Arizona on Dec. 12 and his 1 sack against the Raiders. Andre Tippett holds the team record with 7 sacks in a three-game span. Has registered 11 sacks in the last seven games. Since Week 8 of the season, he is the NFL leader in sacks with 11. Javon Hargrave of Philadelphia is second with 9 sacks. Part of the defensive unit that has recorded 48 sacks so far this season.
• Registered a 3-ayrd sack in the second quarter vs. Cincinnati (12/24) to push his 2022 totals to 11 ½ sacks, all in the last eight games. He leads the NFL in sacks since Week 8 with his 11 ½ sacks.

2021 (12/0, 1/0)

• Contributes as a reserve linebacker with limited snaps on special teams.
• Appeared as a key reserve linebacker in the season-opener vs. Miami (9/12).
• Recorded his second career sack on a third-down play late in the second half to hold Miami to a 48-yard field goal.
• Had two fourth quarter sacks at N.Y. Jets (9/19), his first two-sack game in the NFL.
• Inactive vs. New Orleans (9/26) due to injury (back).
• Recovered a fumble vs. N.Y. Jets (10/24) in the fourth quarter forced by DB Myles Bryant.
• Placed on injured reserve on 11/17.
• Activated off injured reserve on 12/25.
• Played limited snaps on both defense and special teams vs. Buffalo (12/26).
• Rotated in on defense vs. Jacksonville (1/2).
• Recorded two tackles in just five snaps of play at Miami (1/9).
• Played in his first playoff game in the Wild Card Round loss at Buffalo (1/15).

2020 (9/1)

• Played in nine games with one start and tallied nine tackles and one sack.
• Was inactive for the season opener vs. Miami (9/13) and at Seattle (9/20).
• Placed on IR before Week 3. Las Vegas (9/27).
• Was activated off IR the day before the game and made his NFL debut in a Week 8 loss at Buffalo after being inactive for the first two games of the season and then spending time on IR. Made on unassisted tackle and registered a hit on Bills QB Josh Allen.
• Played a limited role linebacker in a Week 9 win at the Jets (11/9).
• Registered his first career sack when he dropped Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson for a seven yard loss in the second quarter as part of a Week 10 win over the Ravens (11/15).
• Substituted in at linebacker in a Week 11 loss at Houston (11/22). Notched one unassisted tackle on a Deshaun Watson scramble on third down, forcing Houston to punt. NE scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive.
• Appeared in a limited role at linebacker as part of a Week 12 win vs. Arizona (11/29). Delivered a hit on Arizona QB Kyler Murray in the third quarter.
• Had three quarterback pressures against the Chargers in a Week 13 win at Los Angeles (12/6).
• Substituted in at linebacker and posted tow solo tackles in a Week 14 loss at the Rams (12/10).
• Was in the starting lineup for the first time in his NFL career as part of a Week 16 loss vs. Buffalo (12/26). Posted two tackles before being injured and not returning.
• Placed on IR prior to Week 17 vs. the Jets (1/3).

COLLEGE

• Josh Uche was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round (60th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.
• College
• Was a three-year letterman at Michigan.
• Earned 2019 All-Big Ten second team honors (coaches) and third-team accolades (media).
• 2019 defensive player of the year as voted on by his teammates.
• Appeared in 40 career games with nine starts at linebackers and recorded 56 tackles, 16½ sacks, one fumble recovery and two passes defensed.
• Started nine games at linebacker and played in all 13 contests. Posted a career-best 35 tackles, 8½ sacks, two passes defensed and one fumble recovery.
• Earned second varsity letter and was All-Big Ten honorable mention (coaches and media) as a junior in 2018. Played in 12 games and registered 15 tackles, seven sacks and one pass breakup.
• Earned first varsity letter as a sophomore in 2017. Played in 10 games and saw action at linebacker in nine contests. Registered three tackles and one sack.

PERSONAL:

• Attended the same high school as former U-M and NFL quarterback Brian Griese.
• Helped lead team to Florida Class 8A state championship game as a junior and senior.
• Tallied 50 tackles and 14 sacks with two forced fumbles as a senior.
• Notched 66 tackles and 10 sacks his junior year.
• Registered 52 tackles, 8 1/2 sacks and two forced fumbles as a sophomore.
• Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, majoring in political science.