The Patriots’ depth at linebacker took an untimely hit yesterday when Jerod Mayo was placed on season-ending injured reserve because of the shoulder injury he sustained Saturday against the Chiefs.
With Dont’a Hightower (knee) and Jamie Collins (back) both dealing with injuries, and Jonathan Freeny playing with a broken hand, the Pats can ill afford to lose the veteran.
While Mayo hasn’t been the player he was in past seasons (coming back from the patellar tendon injury that wiped out his 2014 campaign), the seven-time captain still was a contributor both on the field and in the locker room.