Report: Patriots LB Dont'a Hightower to have labrum surgery
New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower will undergo shoulder surgery after playing in Super Bowl XLIX with "mostly one arm," reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.
Hightower finished the Super Bowl win over the Seahawks with five tackles (three solo), including a major tackle late in the game to keep Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch out of the end zone. Trailing 28-24 with 1:06 remaining, the Seahawks had a first and 5 from the Patriots' 5-yard line. Lynch, who had scored on a 3-yard run in the second quarter, ran off the left tackle for 4 yards before Hightower brought him down at the 1.
On the next play, Patriots cornerback Malcolm Play clinched the game with his interception of a Russell Wilson pass into the end zone.
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Hightower had been listed with a shoulder injury on the Patriots' injury report since Week 14. The third-year player finished the regular season second on the team with 89 tackles and tied for second with six sacks despite playing in only 12 games.
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Hightower was a first-round draft pick (25th overall) by the Patriots in 2012.
- Mike Fiammetta
