UPDATE: Dont'a Hightower has a torn pectoral muscle and will miss the rest of the season, according to NFL Network.
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Just as the Patriots’ defense finally seemed to be jelling, a major part may be out for an extended time. On Sunday night, Dont’a Hightower came up clutching his right arm after this attempted tackle play.
Best-case scenario
For Hightower to return this season and for a bulk of it, the hope is that the injury is inside the shoulder joint. Hightower had a labrum repair on the right shoulder in 2015. In the past, he has been seen wearing shoulder harnesses (left last year, right previously), which are used to protect the labrum by limiting the amount that he is able to reach up/away to block passes or tackle. Hightower has played through labrum tears in the past and, given his history, there is a chance that surgery would not be considered the best option for treatment. So a labrum tear, while limiting, may not mean an end to Hightower’s season. If this was just a re-aggravation of his previous labrum issue, I would expect him to be sidelined for a few weeks. The absolute best-case under that scenario would be Hightower being out for 2-4 weeks. But, again, that's being really optimistic.
Conclusion
Overall, if this were a case of an acute, full-thickness pectoralis tear, I think that the team would have announced season-ending surgery by now. In fact, most teams announce this injury within 24 hours because the diagnosis is known almost immediately. However, if there is any chronic component, a partial pec tear, or if there is a question whether or not Hightower’s previous shoulder issues are playing a role in his pain, then I suspect we may be in for a bit of “wait and see.”
When Hightower was in free agency, I wrote about issues of his availability affecting contract negotiations. This injury, while incredibly unfortunate, is not a surprise for the Patriots — they knew what they were getting into. However, we’ve seen how having No. 54 on the field can completely change the dynamics of a defense. I suspect this is an injury that could ground Hightower for some time. Just how long? I think we’ll get a better idea in the coming days.