Derek Rivers’ rookie season has ended before it could even start. The team fears that the defensive end has suffered a season-ending knee injury, according to Field Yates and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Specifically, Rivers has suffered a torn ACL and sprained LCL, per the initial MRI, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Additional testing will likely confirm that surgery is needed.
Rivers was injured during a kickoff coverage drill on Wednesday. It’s a bad break for both the player and the team as Rivers was expected to pitch in at both defensive end and outside linebacker in the wake of Rob Ninkovich‘s retirement.
Rivers was a third-round pick in this year’s draft, but he wound up being the team’s highest draft choice after the Pats sent their first-round pick to the Saints for wide receiver Brandin Cooks and dealt their second-round choice to the Panthers for defensive end Kony Ealy.
The injury could prompt the Patriots to look at free agent options. There aren’t a ton of high-impact edge rushers left, but Dwight Freeney is one of the more notable names left on the board. As a pass rush specialist for the Falcons last year, Freeney finished out with 3.0 sacks and ten tackles in the regular season.
Sign Freeney for depth
Agree right now they are not looking good there with Ealy underperforming and no one else really they could be in trouble
Mild trouble but the offence can control the ball for long periods of time and put up big points
Yeah but winning every game 35-31 or 42-35 isn’t a sustainable way to win. Freeney isn’t what he used to be, but he’s decent enough to fill the role he’d have to fill.
Mario Williams would be a nice pick up he’s a little younger maybe has a lil animosity towards the bills and dolphins for the way things played out and wants a ring could be a nice fit don’t you think ?
Bring Freeney back to New England!!!
When was he in New England?
He’s from Connecticut.