New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo's season is officially over, as he was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, according to ESPN's Field Yates. Mayo suffered the injury in Saturday's win over the Kansas City Chiefs, and will know have to watch from the sidelines as his team looks to repeat as Super Bowl Champions.
This is the third straight season that Mayo has been placed on season ending injured reserve, and his future in New England is far from certain. The Patriots linebacker recorded 47 combined tackles and a sack in his eighth season in New England.
Mayo wasn't the only big name defender to go down for his team this weekend, as Carolina Panthers defensive end Jared Allen is listed as doubtful after suffering a fractured foot in the fourth quarter of a win over the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round of the playoffs. Allen is the NFL's active career sack leader with 136 sacks, and finished Sunday's game against the Seahawks despite the injury.
"If there is a glimmer of hope that he can play, I promise you he'll probably try to play," said Panthers head Ron Rivera, via ESPN. "If he can't, he's going to be around, and he'll be an annoyance. He's going to want to be right in the middle of it. He's going to want to be of part of it and help us."
Allen turns 34 years old this offseason and has yet to reach a Super Bowl in his career. Expect the Panthers defensive end to have an impact from the sidelines on Sunday if he can't suit up, as he will look to be an extra defensive line coach for Carolina.
