Report: Dont'a Hightower Suffered MCL Sprain In Loss To Broncos
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots lost a high-impact player on each side of the ball at the end of their Sunday night loss to the Denver Broncos, but have reportedly dodged a major bullet to one of them. Linebacker Dont'a Hightower suffered an MCL sprain during the 30-24 loss, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
Hightower left the game with a knee injury late in the second quarter and did not return. That his injury is not of the season-ending variety will certainly come as good news to New England. To put the injury in perspective, when Jerod Mayo sprained his MCL in 2011 he missed only two games, but the injury could take up to six weeks to heal. Barring setbacks, the Patriots could possibly get Hightower back Week 15 against the Tennessee Titans in Foxboro or Week 16 at the New York Jets, if not for the start of the postseason.
Hightower had amassed 55 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one fumble recovery in 10+ games prior to the injury.
The team also lost All-World tight end Rob Gronkowski to a knee injury, but initial reports say the injury is not as serious as it looked.
One bullet dodged, one to go.
