FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- With New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle, and the NFL's trade deadline at 4 p.m. ET on Oct. 31, an obvious question is whether the team might acquire a player to help fill the void.
Some thoughts on that possibility:
1. The Patriots are essentially acquiring a linebacker when six-year veteran Shea McClellin is eligible to play Nov. 12 against the Broncos. McClellin opened the year on injured reserve, returned to practice last week, and could quickly rise to the No.