The New England Patriots have informed linebacker Tully Banta-Cain they will cut him Thursday, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter Tuesday.

The move comes just days after Banta-Cain underwent surgery for an abdominal injury. He was expected to have a four- to five-week recovery period. Banta-Cain could be released as soon as Thursday at 4:01 p.m. ET, when the NFL re-opens waivers.

The eight-year veteran had sustained the injury last season, and in meeting with team doctors at the end of the year, it was decided that no surgery was required. But Banta-Cain tweaked the injury in recent workouts, a source told ESPNBoston.com.

The Patriots signed Banta-Cain to a three-year extension last offseason. He was scheduled to earn a base salary of $2.3 million in 2011, with a salary-cap charge of more than $4 million. By cutting him, the Patriots project to save some on their cap, but the exact number was not immediately clear.

One of the Patriots' top pass-rushers, Banta-Cain compiled 15 sacks the past two seasons in New England. The eight-year veteran played in 15 games in 2010, including six starts, and was second on the team with five sacks. His role was mostly as a pass-rusher in specialty packages.