:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/41806178/20141012_lbm_ah3_305.JPG.0.jpg)
The news is in on Stevan Ridley, and it is not good at all. ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss is reporting that Stevan Ridley has torn both his ACL and MCL. He is done for the season:
Filed to ESPN: Source says RB Stevan Ridley tore his ACL and MCL.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 13, 2014
Earlier today, we examined which running backs might carry the load with Ridley out for the year.
How this affects Ridley's pending free agency is another angle to monitor. He will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Recently, running backs haven't done well on the free agent market. Add in a fresh ACL tear, and Ridley probably won't be looking at the payday he was before yesterday's game. For now, his focus can only be on getting healthy, and we wish him the best of luck in that endeavor.
The Patriots will obviously also place Ridley on injured reserve at some point soon. That will open up a roster spot, although Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Patriots are not likely to fill that spot this week.