Patriots RB Shane Vereen out until Week 11
Shane Vereen is out after breaking a bone in his left wrist. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen will be out until Week 11 after breaking a bone in his left wrist in the team's season opener Sunday, the team announced Tuesday.
New England placed Vereen on the Injured Reserve-Designated to Return list. He can't be activated for at least eight weeks. Because the Patriots have a Week 10 bye, the earliest he could be back is Week 11.
Vereen rushed for 101 yards and caught seven passes against the Bills on Sunday. After starter Stevan Ridley was benched for fumbling, Vereen became New England's featured back.
But any hopes that he would continue to cut into Ridley's carries ended when news of the wrist injury emerged. Vereen had surgery, and early reports speculated that he would only be out for a "few weeks." But those reports were overly optimistic.
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