Stephen Neal Placed On IR

BOSTON (CBS) -- Patriots Stephen Neal (G) has been put on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, which means he is done for the year.

Neal started the first eight games of the season before being inactive in each of the three last games.

Neal, 6-2, 305 pounds, has been with New England since 2001.

Since entering the starting lineup at right guard in 2004, Neal has been part of an offensive line that has helped the Patriots' offense finish in the top 10 in total offense five times.

He was originally signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2001 out of Cal State-Bakersfield, where he was a championship wrestler.

Last season, Neal was part of an offensive line that allowed just 18 sacks, the fewest by a Patriots squad since the NFL moved to a 16-game schedule in 1978.