The New England Patriots’ third-round draft pick likely won’t be on the field when organized team activities begin next month.
Linebacker/safety Marte Mapu, selected 76th overall Friday night, suffered a torn pectoral muscle in February while training for the draft. That injury prevented him from working out at his pro day or in private workouts with teams, and it sounds like it’ll sideline him for a few more months as he begins his NFL career.
Mapu’s layoff should end long before Week 1, however. The Sacramento State product said in his introductory news conference that he expects to be cleared in time for training camp.