The Patriots turned to Shane Vereen at tailback Sunday after Stevan Ridley had trouble holding onto the ball, but they didn’t lose much of anything in terms of production.
Vereen ran for 101 yards, making him the only running back to cross the century mark thus far in Week One, and caught seven passes for 58 yards as well, but it looks like the Patriots are going to have to wait a few weeks for an encore.
Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports that Vereen broke a small bone in his wrist on his first play of the game on Sunday and that he’s scheduled for surgery on Monday that will keep him out for a few weeks. Per Glazer, Vereen was able to play the entire game but concern grew afterwards because he experienced numbness in his wrist after the game because of the way the bone was sitting on the nerve.
With Vereen out, Ridley’s stay in the doghouse may come to an end. The Patriots have Brandon Bolden, LeGarrette Blount and Leon Washington on the roster as well, but none of them offer the same package of skills that Ridley brings to the team. Those skills don’t matter if he can’t hold onto the ball, of course, but a reprieve could be in the offing with the loss of his replacement.