Brandon Spikes: MCL Sprain for New England Patriots Linebacker

If things couldn't get worse for the New England Patriots, they did with linebacker Brandon Spikes out likely a couple weeks. 

According to several sources, Spikes suffered a strained MCL in the team's 24-20 loss against the New York Giants. According to the reports, Spikes is going to be considered week-to-week. 

Through seven games this season for the Patriots, Spikes has been the team's most productive linebacker, as he's tallied up 44 tackles as well as one pass deflection. The second-year linebacker has played a significant role in New England's defense thus far, as he filled in for Jerod Mayo as the team's defensive signal-caller when Mayo was down with a sprained MCL. 

With Spikes out for some time as well as Dane Fletcher frequently dealing with injuries, the team is now forced to turn to special teams player Tracy White to take over for some of the snaps. 

Entering this weekend's battle with the New York Jets, I would expect to see a lot of White as well as Gary Guyton filling in for Spikes, with Rob Ninkovich and Mayo playing on the outside. 

Spikes' injury comes at an inconvenient time with the team currently on a two-game skid—not to mention Spikes has been playing rather well for the Patriots thus far. 

With Spikes, this is just yet another obstacle that New England's struggling defense is going to have to deal with moving forward. 

For more articles like this, check out PatriotsPlus.net.