MADISON- In exclusive comments to the Madison Record, former Madison Academy All-State football player Jordan Matthews said he is looking forward to the 2018 season after signing a one-year contract with the New England Patriots.

“I’m so excited to get started with my new team,” said Matthews.

He was an unrestricted free agent after playing for the Buffalo Bills in 2017 where he caught 25 passes for 282 yards and one touchdown, but injuries slowed him throughout the campaign and limited him to play in just 10 games. He suffered a chest injury during pre-season practice, a thumb injury, which required surgery during the early part of the season and a knee injury causing him to miss the last four games of the regular season and the playoffs. He underwent surgery on his left knee and right ankle four months ago and his recuperation from those surgeries is going well and he is on target to get into physical action at any time.

The Patriots are looking to Matthews to help in the fact the team lost its top two wide receivers from last year. The 25-year old Matthews is entering his fifth season in the NFL after spending his first three with the Philadelphia Eagles (225 passes, 2,573 yards, 19 touchdowns) before being traded to Buffalo in 2017.

The 6-foot-3, 212-pound Matthews is considered a physical receiver who can play both inside and outside in the receiving corps and has good hands. He contributes a lot of his success as a pass receiver from his years of playing basketball. With the Eagles, he became just one of five players in NFL history to record 65-plus receptions and 800-plus yards in each of their first three seasons.

Now with the Patriots, Matthews is looking to make a new start on his return to play. He told the Madison Record, “This opportunity gave me the chance to grow as a player and that was the most enticing part.”