The New England Patriots are placing both defensive lineman Henry Anderson and wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson on injured reserve, which effectively ends both of their seasons.
ESPN’s Field Yates reported the news on Tuesday.
The only chance of either player returning would be the Patriots releasing them with injury settlements to potentially sign with another team. A similar agreement was reached with cornerback Malcolm Butler last week.
Anderson, 31, got left in the wind by some of the younger players along the defensive front. It was an uphill battle from day one, and he never caught on with the unit.
Wilkerson, on the other hand, looked to be on track for a strong preseason after leading the Patriots in receiving with eight receptions for 99 yards in the opener against the New York Giants.
Unfortunately, he was the victim of a nasty hit by defensive back Kenny Robinson during a joint practice session with the Carolina Panthers. The hit set the stage for a disturbing brawl that broke out between the two teams and spilled into the stands.
Wilkerson was diagnosed with a concussion and has been sidelined ever since.
The IR moves, along with defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale being put on reserve/NFL suspension for two games, do not count against the Patriots’ 53-man roster.
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