The Patriots’ fears were confirmed Monday when an MRI revealed core special teamer Nate Ebner suffered a season-ending knee injury early in Sunday’s win over the Dolphins, according to a league source.

Ebner was placed on injured reserve and it is feared he suffered a torn ACL when he went down at the conclusion of a 14-yard rush on a successful fake punt on the first series of the game.

The news was considerably better for defensive end Trey Flowers, who left the game with a rib injury after colliding with teammate Marquis Flowers during a sack of Matt Moore in the third quarter. Flower’s injury isn’t considered serious and he is week to week.


Ebner’s right leg buckled awkwardly at the end of the play and he fell in a heap along the Patriots’ sideline. The sixth-year veteran was almost immediately ruled out for the remainder of the game. It was similar to how receiver Julian Edelman went down with the same injury in a preseason game at Detroit.

The injury is a big blow to the special teams corps as Ebner, a second-team All-Pro last season when he tied for the league-lead with 19 tackles, was the unit’s leading tackler this season with eight.

The group has been without captain Matthew Slater for six games – including the last two – because of hamstring problems. Slater did practice last week and was on the sideline Sunday, an indication his return could be imminent.

Geneo Grissom, who has played a good deal on special teams, is a strong candidate to get promoted from the practice squad to help fill in for Ebner

Trey Flowers was coy when asked about his injury after the game. Smiling, Flowers said he was taken out because he “needed a rest.’’ He deftly sidestepped further injury queries though he did say, “yeah, man’’ when asked if he’d be in Buffalo on Sunday.


Linebacker Kyle Van Noy has a right calf strain, according to a league source, but it’s too early to tell whether he’ll miss any significant time. Van Noy has become a vital member of the defense, his role growing after Dont’a Hightower went down with a pectoral injury.

There was no immediate word on the other Patriots who were injured Sunday: linebackers Marquis Flowers (right knee) and Trevor Reilly (head) and offensive lineman LaAdrian Waddle (right ankle).