Injury update: Patriots pass rusher Trey Flowers did not suffer broken ribs; reportedly week-to-week

The New England Patriots defeated the visiting Miami Dolphins by a final score of 35-17. However, in the process of doing so, the team lost multiple players to injury – among them its best pass rusher. Defensive edge Trey Flowers left the contest after a sack in the fourth quarter due to a rib injury. He did not return and instead headed into the locker room.

According to the Boston Herald's Jeff Howe, tests revealed that the third-year pro did not suffer any broken ribs:

Trey Flowers doesn’t have any broken ribs, per source. Sounds like it’s week to week. Could be a matter of pain tolerance, which is always tricky with ribs.

Flowers is the Patriots' best edge defender and is productive against both the pass and the run. Seeing him not suffer broken ribs is therefore obviously good news for the Patriots, although the phrase “week-to-week” still leaves his availability for next week's game against the Buffalo Bills in question.