The New England Patriots will be without linebacker Jerod Mayo this weekend for the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos.
Mayo sustained a shoulder injury in last Saturday’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round of the playoffs and was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
The IR designation means Mayo also will not be eligible for the Super Bowl should the Patriots beat the Broncos on Sunday in Denver.
Mayo played in all 16 regular-season games this season and had 47 tackles, one sack and one pass defensed in a part-time role. He was injured during the third quarter against the Chiefs.
It’s the third straight year that Mayo’s season ended on IR. And with a $4 million contract bonus due in March if the team exercises its option, Mayo might have played his last game with the Patriots.
Of more immediate concern to the Patriots is the status of Pro Bowl linebacker Jamie Collins, who left last week’s game against the Chiefs with an oblique strain.
With Mayo sidelined, the Patriots are thin at linebacker with Jonathan Freeny, Darius Fleming and Jon Bostic behind Collins and Dont’a Hightower on the depth chart.