BY SEAN DONOVAN
In a somewhat surprising move, the New England Patriots placed veteran safety Adrian Wilson on injured reserve Saturday, according to the NFL transaction wire. The actual injury was not disclosed.
The Patriots signed the 12-year veteran to a three-year deal this offseason with the hopes of injecting some experience into a young secondary, but Wilson had a poor preseason, suggesting that he could no longer contribute to the level he once did.
The injured reserve designation keeps Wilson with the team and therefore allows him to collect his $1 million base salary for the 2013 season.
The move leaves New England with essentially the same core secondary as last season, when the team ranked 29th in the NFL in pass defense. Devin McCourty and Steve Gregory are expected to start at safety for the Patriots.
For Wilson, it appears a long and successful career is slowing to a halt. He played 12 seasons at strong safety for the Arizona Cardinals, appearing in five Pro Bowls and being named to the All Pro team in 2009.
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