BY SEAN DONOVAN
The New England Patriots have lost a pair of key defensive starters to season-ending injuries this year, and now they may have lost one on the offensive side of the ball.
Patriots right tackle Sebastian Vollmer was carted off the field after suffering an apparently severe right leg injury in the second quarter of the team's 27-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. A Miami defender rolled up Vollmer from behind on a first-down rushing attempt.
Details of the injury were not provided by the team after the game.
"It's always tough. Sebastian, he's a good player, good teammate, good friend, so we're hoping for the best," Patriots guard Logan Mankins said, according to ESPN. "We don't know what happened yet, but hopefully it's not too bad."
New England has already lost two core players to serious injuries, after defensive tackle Vince Wilfork tore his Achilles in Week 4 and linebacker Jerod Mayo tore a pectoral muscle earlier this month.
Vollmer signed a four-year, $17 million extension this past March. Veteran Marcus Cannon stepped in at right tackle in Vollmer's place and figures to be his short-term replacement.
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