Dominique Easley hasn't made a huge impact for the New England Patriots since the team drafted him in the first round of this year's draft. Now his rookie season is over.
Easley is headed to injured reserve with a knee injury, the team announced. The slow start to Easley's career should not be viewed as a big surprise. He lasted until the end of the first round because he was coming off a torn ACL; he suffered torn ACLs in both knees at Florida.
The versatile lineman played 270 snaps this year as a reserve, according to Pro Football Focus. He made some of his biggest impact plays later in the year, but was primarily a rotation player. The Patriots' run defense has proven solid this year, largely because of a resurgent Vince Wilfork.
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This comes as absolutely no surprise at all.