Patriots place DL Wilfork on IR
The New England Patriots announced Thursday that they placed defensive lineman Vince Wilfork on injured reserve and released tight end Zach Sudfeld.
Wilfork tore his right Achilles tendon Sunday night in the Patriots' 30-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Wilfork went down awkwardly in the first quarter of the game.
Wilfork, listed at 6-foot-2, 325 pounds, dominates the middle of the defense, allowing linebackers to run freely to their targets. Wilfork has been a force for the Patriots since they drafted him in the first round (21st overall) out of Miami in 2004. Since then, he was selected to the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro teams five times, including last season.
Sudfeld, 24, joined the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Nevada in May 3. The 6-foot-7, 260-pounder played in three of the first four games of the season as a reserve and on special teams.
Earlier in the day, the team signed wide receiver Austin Collie.
Collie had at least three concussions in four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. He worked out for the Patriots in June, but was not signed. He was still recovering from patellar tendon replacement surgery but later signed with the San Francisco 49ers.
Collie told teams in free agency he was willing to sign a waiver if necessary to return to football despite his concussion history.
Collie had just one reception in 2012 but had 16 touchdowns and 143 total receptions in 42 games with the Colts.
