Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston reports Patriots All-Pro guard Logan Mankins is recovering from ACL surgery, after apparently tearing the knee ligament during New England’s Super Bowl XLVI loss to the New York Giants.
One source told Reiss that Mankins played through a torn ACL “without realizing it.”
In order to protect themselves against Mankins potentially missing the start of the 2012 season, the Patriots signed Robert Gallery on Monday.
It’s worth noting that Mankins was on the Patriots’ injury report throughout the playoffs after suffering what was then believed to be a sprained left MCL in Week Sixteen versus the Dolphins. Mankins sat out Week Seventeen, but he returned for the postseason.
Reiss’ report indicates that Mankins’ injury didn’t occur until an early hit in Super Bowl XLVI, but it doesn’t rule out the possibility that Mankins might have played all three of New England’s playoff games through an undiagnosed ACL tear.
Regardless, Mankins will miss all of the Patriots’ offseason program. While he “hopes” to be ready for training camp, the lateness of the injury and subsequent reconstructive surgery certainly jeopardizes that timeline.