New England Patriots starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer, who left Sunday's game with an injury, will undergo surgery to repair a broken right leg, according to a report from the Boston Herald.

Sebastian Vollmer, who has been a linchpin for the Patriots' offensive line and developed into one of the top right tackles in the NFL, was injured Sunday. Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports

The timetable for Vollmer's return to action is unclear, as is whether he will need to be placed on the injured reserve list, shelving him for the rest of this season.

Originally a 2009 second-round pick out of Houston, Vollmer has been a linchpin for the Patriots' offensive line and developed into one of the top right tackles in all of football.

He was signed to a new four-year contract this past offseason when he hit free agency that included extensive incentives tied to playing time. He can earn an additional $750,000 on top of his base salary of $1.25 million for this season if he plays 90 percent of the Patriots' offensive snaps.

In his place, the Patriots are likely to start third-year player Marcus Cannon, who took over for Vollmer on Sunday.