Report: Spikes IR Designation Was For Missing Practice
FOXBORO (CBS) - New England Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes' placement on Injured Reserve this past Monday was not because of an injury, but because he missed a team practice the previous Friday during a snow storm, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported.
The IR designation ended Spikes' season just days before the team was set to host its playoff opener at Gillette Stadium.
Spikes had been battling a knee injury for more than two months, and it was reported that he had aggravated the injury in the regular-season finale against the Bills. However, Mortensen reports that the injury was not bad enough to put the linebacker on IR.
Brandon Spikes hobbled with knee but being late to Friday's bye week practice was final straw for Belichick. Mutually, to IR, per sources
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) January 11, 2014
Spikes, 26, finished third on the team in tackles this season, his fourth after being drafted in the second round of the 2010 draft. He recorded 134 total tackles, according to the Patriots.