Aaron Hernandez Expected To Miss 4-6 Weeks

A source, who has been briefed on the injury, has informed the NFL Network that Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez is expected to miss 4-6 weeks because of a low-ankle sprain.

Several reports have already mentioned that Hernandez was most likely going to miss close to this amount of time, but injury was believed to be the dreaded high-ankle sprain. The fact that it’s a low-ankle sprain hasn’t changed the amount of time that he’s expected to miss, so it’s really a moot point.

New England has signed Kellen Winslow to fill in for the injured Hernandez.

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James Walker of ESPN reports that Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez will not return from his recent ankle injury until October, “at the earliest.”

This means that he’s almost guaranteed to miss the next weeks, and even then he may not be ready to return. The Pats were expecting big things from Hernandez this season, which was evident by their inability to make the necessary adjustments during Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals.

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Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com reports that a league source has informed him that Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez  is scheduled to have an MRI Monday. It’s expected that Hernandez suffered a high-ankle sprain on Sunday.

Hernandez injured his ankle in the first quarter as the Patriots fell to the Cardinals yesterday, 20-18. He was spotted after the game in a walking boot and with crutches as he left the stadium.

Typically, a high-ankle sprain will keep someone out for 4-6 weeks. If Hernandez is down for a while, expect the Patriots to use more three-WR looks, which could benefit Wes Welker, who was on a snap count in week one.