Patriots outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain underwent surgery on Friday to repair an abdominal injury. A source confirmed this to ESPN last night and estimated that it would be 4-5 weeks before the veteran pass rusher would be ready to play.
Banta-Cain will most likely miss training camp and the preseason and may miss the Patriots' season opener on September 12th at Miami.
The injury and subsequent surgery could not have come at a worse time for both Banta-Cain and the Patriots, as the NFL Lockout is reportedly ending today. If the league and the NFLPA can reach an agreement today, training camps could open as early as this Wednesday with the Pats reportedly being one of the 10 teams to start on the first day.
Some have wondered why Banta-Cain waited so long to get the surgery done. I personally believe that the lockout is partly to blame. After suffering the injury late last season, team doctors said that surgery was not required. Apparently, Banta-Cain reinjured his abdomen during recent workouts. One can't help but wonder if this injury would have came back had the NFL offseason schedule proceeded as usual, with mandatory OTAs and offical team workouts. I would imagine that this conditioning issue will manifest itself with many teams as camp opens up.
Banta-Cain played in 15 games last season and recorded six sacks, mostly coming off the bench in special packages.
If Banta-Cain is to miss any significant time past the initial 4-5 week estimation, the Patriots will look into acquiring a veteran OLB who can get to the QB and mentor some of the Pats' younger pass fishers like Rob Ninkovich and Jermaine Cunningham, who will fill in while Banta-Cain is out.
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