So much for playoff hopes....(Welker Injury)

[PosImpos]

http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast

"Bill Belichick was his taciturn, guarded self when discussing Wes Welker's injury after Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans.

But Welker's father wasn't nearly as restrained.

Boston Globe reporter Adam Kilgore spoke with Welker's father in Oklahoma City. Leland Walker delivered a sobering reaction about Wes Welker's left knee injury, which could sideline the NFL's leading receiver for the postseason.

"We’re sick. We’re absolutely sick," Leland Walker said. "We take all those hits and stuff all season long. And then just one fluke cut, and he just blows it out."

Leland Walker hadn't spoken to his son, but his wife, Shelley, had.

"He was really upset," Leeland Welker said. "He didn't feel like talking about it too much." "


It was already a long shot for us to get past the second round of the playoffs.  Without Welker it might be difficult for us to win in the first round.

Granted, Welker might not be out for the post-season - you never know until they do an MRI - but it certainly doesn't sound good.

[Donoghus]

Well, I will say that Edelman played pretty well in Welker's absence today.

Losing Welker is a big hit but losing a receiver isn't as devastating to this squad as losing Brady. 

To be honest, I'm more worried about the defense.  They're gonna face some potent offenses in the playoffs with quarterbacks that can throw the ball.  If they can't get a rush on the passer, the Pats are cooked. 

[jambr380]

This would really suck. I am kind of getting sick of injuries making it impossible for us to make any run at the playoffs (the obvious being Brady last year). Welker is super-important, so if he is out, I don't see any real possibility, unless Edelman has a LOT in him.

[Eja117]

2nd year in a row we've lost our best player

[Donoghus]

2nd year in a row we've lost our best player

Nah.  Brady's still playing this year.

[PosImpos]

The irony is this year we had Brady, made the playoffs, and had a worse record than last year when we didn't have Brady and didn't make the playoffs.  The NFL is so strange.

[Roy Hobbs]

I don't like the Pats, but that's a terrible thing to happen right before the playoffs.  I'd rather see them lose because somebody legitimately beats them, rather than have them lose due to injury.

[Eja117]

2nd year in a row we've lost our best player

Nah.  Brady's still playing this year.

EXACCCTTTLLLYYYYY

[guava_wrench]

Too bad. He is the only player I like on the Pats. At least I can root against them fully now.

[Donoghus]

The news is not good

Latest per Profootballtalk:

The early word on Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker is not good.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that preliminary tests show Welker having a torn ACL and torn MCL. He is scheduled to undergo more testing on Monday, and until an MRI confirms the diagnosis Welker can hold out hope that it's not that serious, but at the moment things look grim.

A torn ACL and MCL would obviously keep Welker out of the postseason, and it would probably affect his availability for the start of training camp and possibly the start of the 2010 regular season.

[celticsclay]

I don't like the Pats, but that's a terrible thing to happen right before the playoffs.  I'd rather see them lose because somebody legitimately beats them, rather than have them lose due to injury.

Say it aint so Roy. Say it ain't so.

[Change]

Bill Belichick Karma, just kidding. He's rotten to the core. But as long as you have Brady, you still have a shot.

[Jon]

Well, I will say that Edelman played pretty well in Welker's absence today.

Losing Welker is a big hit but losing a receiver isn't as devastating to this squad as losing Brady. 

To be honest, I'm more worried about the defense.  They're gonna face some potent offenses in the playoffs with quarterbacks that can throw the ball.  If they can't get a rush on the passer, the Pats are cooked. 

Yeah.  I wouldn't say it's over yet.  Edelman looked good today and as good as Welker's been over the past few years, a portion of that success is due to Brady, Moss, and the system.  Edelman's still going to benefit from all three of those things in the playoffs.

Furthermore, what the Pats and other teams have looked like over the season doesn't really matter at this point.  The two years ago when the Giants upset the Pats, there were points in the season where it looked like the Giants wouldn't make the playoffs.  Then they got hot and won. 

Anything is possible in the NFL.  Unlike basketball, in football the best team often doesn't win.  So even if you don't think the Pats are the best team in the NFL, I wouldn't rule them out yet. 

[Cman]

The even cruddier thing about Welker's injury is that not only will he miss the playoffs this year, but, depending on how long it takes to rehab after the surgery, he may also miss a significant number of games next year.

[Donoghus]

And Brady has a broken finger in addition to the ribs.  Although it's not a new injury. 

It's not a new injury, but Tom Brady is playing through a broken index finger in addition to his three broken ribs.

ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed the severity of the finger injury suffered a month ago, saying Brady has been playing through a broken index finger on his throwing hand.

The finger injury reportedly is bothering Brady more than his broken ribs, which were originally suffered in the preseason.  Brady left the locker room Sunday before speaking to the media, which we can't remember ever happening before.

Even without the injury updates about Brady, this Sunday could not have gone much worse for the New England Patriots.