Patriots DE Andre Carter May Need Surgery

by Richard Hill on Dec 18, 2011 8:09 PM EST in New England Patriots News

According to Josina Anderson, the injury to Patriots defensive end Andre Carter is worse that it originally appeared:

Breaking: Agent Carl Poston just told me "looks like Andre (Carter) has a quad-related injury that will require surgery."

Carter's agent has stated that Carter will need surgery to repair this injury, which is a heavy blow for the Patriots. The injury was non-contact and initially appeared to be a knee injury on the same line as linebackers Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes. If Carter truly needs surgery, odds are pretty high that he will most likely be out for the rest of the season.

Carter has been the best player on the Patriots defense the whole season. He's been stellar in both run defense and while rushing the passer, and has provided veteran experience in the locker room. He's been labeled a true professional and has been one of the typical pick-ups that makes the Patriots extremely successful.

Carter will have around four weeks to recover from a surgery, if he is to return for the playoffs. However, I am not sure if that is strong enough support to keep Carter on the active roster. Should Carter be placed on the injured reserve, expect the Patriots to bring up rookie Markell Carter from the practice squad. Also look for an expanded role for Mark Anderson and Eric Moore- or look for the Patriots to shift their defense back to the 3-4 defense as Carter was one of the only reasons for staying in the 4-3 set.

Hopefully Carter can have a speedy recovery.

Tweet Comment 27 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Absolutely sucks.

As if our defense wasn’t already terrible enough.

My Twitter @totheights

by totheights on Dec 18, 2011 8:11 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

fcuk

this one may be too big to overcome

Thad Castle: Which one of you assholes stuck his finger in my asshole?

by cruelangelT on Dec 18, 2011 8:12 PM EST reply actions

by prioris on Dec 18, 2011 8:42 PM EST up reply actions

no one

is bigger than the team. if we arent good enough without him we werent good enough with him. i think we may actually improve(could we really get worse? nvm i know we can just emotions speaking). but seriously the 3-4 looked good, it was better against the run, and the way things have looked lately that is very important for us. plus maybe we see the young carter come in and do some damage. and best of all maybe we see old school bb scheming the heck outta teams n making all the right adjustments the rest of the way. or maybe our defense doesnt figure things out, but brady just has a playoffs for the ages, would you put it past him? i was really worried as to what would happen if someone took gronk away from us, today was a beautiful answer to that question, his name? herndo. in other words keep the faith, we arent world beaters, there are at least 3 teams whom most people say are better than us, but hey, we have a punchers chance, no denying that

by AMORALES on Dec 18, 2011 8:22 PM EST reply actions

I don't agree with this.

For instance, having Gronk in the game took defenders away from Hernandez so he could have the game he did. Their presence is effective. Carter is effective and losing him is a blow to the team.

Don’t ever wrestle with a pig. You’ll both get dirty, but the pig will enjoy it.
1 Cor 13:13

by thirteen on Dec 18, 2011 8:25 PM EST up reply actions

There is no spinning this.

Huge loss.

Our DBs already can’t cover with what little pressure we can get with Carter. Now without him? Boy, I shudder at the thought. I could see a 600 yard passing performance against us.

My Twitter @totheights

by totheights on Dec 18, 2011 8:32 PM EST up reply actions

however

do not think by any means am i minimizing how great carter has been for us. what an addition! hope hes back next year!!! get healthy asap brother!!!

by AMORALES on Dec 18, 2011 10:12 PM EST up reply actions

I like the 3-4 in the playoffs

I think the Patriots need to set Mark Anderson loose in that front.

It sucks to see Carter go down.

In a slightly unrelated note, you’ve got to think that the Patriots are regretting putting Jermaine Cunningham on IR. It seemed like that move was just to stash him for 2012, but we could use him now.

by Greg Knopping on Dec 18, 2011 8:32 PM EST reply actions

For sure

To have let him take a roster spot all year sitting because he doesn’t have a role in the 4-3 only for there to be thoughts of a 3-4 for the playoffs is tough. I still dont see a 3-4 only bc you still have your best personell on the field in a 4-3 as lb is weak and we are still strong at dt and on the line.

by gnatecolby on Dec 18, 2011 9:28 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

i disagree

i believe our lb play is very strong, specifically with anderson in the mix and maybe even mikell soon. but spikes, mayo, and fletcher inside, with mayo, anderson, nink, moore and mikell outside, i dont see that as a weakness at all. n yes i listed mayo on the outside on purpose. i would actually love to see mayo and anderson on the outside with fletcher and spikes inside at times. then in 3-3-5 we can have anderson on dline with fletcher at mlb mayo n nink playing olbs

by AMORALES on Dec 18, 2011 9:44 PM EST up reply actions

Lol our Linebackers have been atrocious.

Thank god for Mayo or they would be far and away the worst LB corps in the league. Combine that with the hot mess we have at safety and you see why our defense is so terrible.

My Twitter @totheights

by totheights on Dec 18, 2011 10:18 PM EST up reply actions

Great d is up the middle dt, mlb and s

Loss of spikes and chunk is the teeth of the d. We get them back we wil be much better.

by gnatecolby on Dec 18, 2011 11:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Carter was one of my favorites to watch all season

but Moore (in the limited role he played today) looked very fresh, and had great pursuit. Mark Anderson also really stepped it up, as did Brace and Deaderick. I’m sure Belichick wouldn’t mind using a 3-4 with Deaderick-Wilfork-Love and Anderson—Spikes(please come back soon!)-Mayo-Ninkovich at LB. Hopefully he’ll come back next year though. He was great here, and seemingly loved it.

It matters not how strait the gate, nor charged with punishments the scroll:
I am the Master of my fate. I am the Captain of my soul.

by BigRussNovak on Dec 18, 2011 8:34 PM EST reply actions

Moore will likely rotate as the third OLB. Fletcher can rotate at either OLB or ILB

by Greg Knopping on Dec 18, 2011 8:43 PM EST up reply actions

Guyton can play some ILB too. I just don't want to see Tracy White out there unless necessary

by Greg Knopping on Dec 18, 2011 8:44 PM EST up reply actions

I'd rather see White than Guyton...

…but I’d rather see neither.

Pats Pulpit | Follow @Rich__Hill

by Richard Hill on Dec 18, 2011 8:49 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed on neither. Fletcher/Spikes/Mayo will be the best rotation for the playoffs

Pats haven’t had those three healthy at the same time since the beginning of the year

by Greg Knopping on Dec 18, 2011 8:57 PM EST up reply actions

Patrick Chung

Ka Chung should be couple weeks away from returning to action, I really missed him every long pass our defense gave up.

Patriots, Clippers, Angels,

by Pats fan in CA on Dec 18, 2011 9:27 PM EST reply actions

The Defense

Losing Carter is big but Cunningham would be no answer.
Fletcher is key for LB core.
Anderson played very well and Moore’s return was welcomed.
Defense was super in 2nd half except for that prevent that made Tebow look like Manning.
Basic plan of stopping Tebow by Brady keeping his offense on the field thereby limiting Tim’s chances was a Bill B masterpiece.
Chad got a TD and blocked well . I’d like to see more passes go his way.

by BEAR73 on Dec 18, 2011 9:37 PM EST reply actions

when he went out today

were the pats in a 3-4 or 4-3,
didnt really look at the formations all that much when he went out

by SDK on Dec 18, 2011 9:47 PM EST reply actions

Get well soon

Even if he’s done for the year, unless the Pats pick up a dynamic DE in the draft I’d like to see them try to bring Carter back next year. Great pass rusher, hard worker, leader in the locker room. Yes please. After a full offseason of working with the coaching staff, I still have dreams of he and Anderson being kind of a Freeney and Mathis lite.

by Aluminum Penguin on Dec 18, 2011 10:04 PM EST reply actions

We need to play Ron Brace more BTW.

Guy was a beast today.

My Twitter @totheights

by totheights on Dec 18, 2011 10:19 PM EST reply actions

biggest play of the game

forced a fumble that reversed the momentum of the game

New England Patriots: 10-3 against the Dolphins, Chargers, Bills, Raiders, Jets (x2), Cowboys, Steelers, Giants, Chiefs, Eagles, Colts, and Redskins.

by freeland1787 on Dec 19, 2011 3:46 AM EST up reply actions

terrible D

Sad loss in Carter going down.

So if the Patriots have the worst D..what does that make the teams that play them and lose? Not to mention the teams that have been unable to stop Tebus? I’d hate to be those Defenses.

by DeutschVergnugen on Dec 19, 2011 12:20 AM EST reply actions

Rodney Harrison's

injury looks very similar to Carter’s. Non-contact quad issues. He’ll probably be out for the remainder…. =(

Worshiping the 'Big A' since 1996.

by garretsglove on Dec 19, 2011 12:34 AM EST reply actions

andre carter is the 2011 lombardi sacrifice candidate

New England Patriots: 10-3 against the Dolphins, Chargers, Bills, Raiders, Jets (x2), Cowboys, Steelers, Giants, Chiefs, Eagles, Colts, and Redskins.

by freeland1787 on Dec 19, 2011 3:50 AM EST up reply actions

lombardi sacrifice attempts

2001- drew bledsoe
2003- damien woody
2004- ty law
2007- roosevelt colvin failed becuz he came back in 2008
2008- rodney harrison failed becuz brady was gone
2010- stephen neal failed becuz it wasn’t his contract year
2011- andre carter? TBD

New England Patriots: 10-3 against the Dolphins, Chargers, Bills, Raiders, Jets (x2), Cowboys, Steelers, Giants, Chiefs, Eagles, Colts, and Redskins.

by freeland1787 on Dec 19, 2011 3:53 AM EST reply actions