Chiefs vs. Patriots: Matt Cassel's Return to New England Will Likely Not Happen

If Matt Cassel's 2011 season couldn't get much worse, it just did as he could very well not only miss Monday night's battle against the New England Patriots, but also he could miss the remainder of the season. 

According to multiple sources, the Kansas City Chiefs have revealed that their starting quarterback has a severe injury to his right hand, and it's likely that it will require surgery—which essentially deems Cassel out for his first game back in Foxborough and is likely done for the year. 

After playing at a Pro Bowl level a year ago, Cassel's 2011 season has been inconsistent to say the least. Cassel has completed only 59.5 percent of his passes while tossing 10 touchdowns and being picked off nine times as well as recording a very mediocre 76.6 quarterback rating. 

As KC's starting quarterback likely to miss Monday's game against the Patriots, the team is forced to turn to backup quarterback Tyler Palko. 

The 28-year-old out of Pittsburgh was an undrafted free agent and has been a career backup. Palko has been in and out of football, as he's spent time on various team's practice squads as well as even taking the entire 2008 year off.

In the only two years that he recorded stats (2010 and 2011), he has posted a 86.1 quarterback rating while completing nine of his 13 passes for 82 yards and has yet to throw a touchdown or an interception. 

This is certainly good news for a beaten up New England Patriots' secondary, as the team will be without Devin McCourty for quite some time with a separated shoulder and could possibly be without Patrick Chung for a second-straight week with a foot injury. With that being said, New England's defense is made up with a bunch of JAGs—just another guy. 

This Monday night's featured battle has certainly lost some of it's lust as the Chiefs 4-5 on the season and will be without Cassel—New England's former backup and would have been making his first return to New England since being traded back in 2009.

With Cassel out, the only two familiar faces that will be returner are KC's defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel as well as the team's general manager Scott Pioli—both previously served under head coach Bill Belichick. 

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