New England Patriots star running back Stevan Ridley went down with a knee injury in yesterday’s 37-22 win over the Buffalo Bills, and he was immediately ruled out of the game, signaling that a significant injury had transpired. Following the game, the fear was that Ridley had suffered an ACL tear, and outside linebacker Jerod Mayo could also be out for the season with a major injury.
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Ridley had an MRI scheduled for today, and the Boston Herald’s excellent Jeff Howe reports that his MRI has indeed been completed. Although no official diagnosis has been made, Howe reports that the “belief” before the MRI took place is that Ridley has a torn ACL. It could be that the MRI disproves what they believe to be true, so it’s important to be prepared for all updates. But it is worth mentioning that “belief” is stronger than “fear”, so we can only prepare to hear the worst possible news.
If Ridley is indeed done for the year with an ACL tear, then the Patriots will need either rookie James White or Brandon Bolden to step up in his absence. Shane Vereen is an excellent, explosive player, but he can’t carry an entire rushing attack, and it would be unwise to allow a running back who isn’t durable to receive 15-20 touches per game.