The Patriots got some tough news yesterday after Rob Ninkovich tore his triceps in joint practices against the Saints. Ninkovich will not require surgery but he will be out until October.

Make no mistake about it, the Patriots will miss Ninkovich. He plays all three downs and he can play out of a two and three point stance. His versatility is a big plus for the Patriots defense.

Chris Long, Trey Flowers and Geneo Grissom among others will get the first shot at replacing Ninkovich. Long has had a good camp thus far as has Flowers so the Patriots could rotate both guys at the nine technique defensive end spot. 

You hate to lose any players to injury let alone an impact player like Ninkovich. Ninkovich isn’t just a key contributor on the field, he’s also a team leader. The Patriots will miss his leadership as well, especially the first four weeks. 

The Patriots will miss Ninkovich immensely. It’s not an overstatement, it’s the realty of the situation. 

Featured Image courtesy of Steven Senne AP