BY DAN BEGNOCHE
The New England Patriots' bad news from Sunday got even worse just one day later, as the team will reportedly be without its top running back and linebacker for the remainder of the season.
Jerod Mayo, who currently has 25 more tackles than anyone on the Patriots' roster, will once again leave the team midway through the season.
After rehabbing torn pectoral muscle this past offseason that forced him to miss 10 games in 2013, Mayo will miss that many again this year, sidelined once again for the remainder of the season due to a lower right leg injury.
The injury, reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter simply as "bad," occurred in the second quarter of the team's 37-22 win against the Buffalo Bills. Despite the somewhat average-looking play, Mayo was subsequently carted off the field and did not return.
Coach Bill Belichick told reporters Monday that the defensive captain's role will be handled with a committee-like approach.
Stevan Ridley, who left the game in the third quarter of Sunday's game after taking an awkward hit to the outside of his knee, will also be lost for the year. Various reports have stated the 25-year-old tore both his MCL and ACL on the play, which would likely put him out of commission for the better half of a year.
Ridley had once again taken over full-time duties in the backfield after getting off to a slow start this year, and his absence will likely mean increased roles for utility back Shane Vereen and bruiser Brandon Bolden.
The former LSU star tallied 340 yards and two touchdowns on 94 carries this year.
