The regular season of the NFL has not yet started but the New England Patriots are already starting to sideline some of their players due to injuries. Recently, it was reported that right tackle Sebastian Vollmer has been placed on the team's reserve/physically unable to perform or PUP list.
Technically, being on this list means that Vollmer still has a chance to return for the latter part of the 2016 season. As noted by Fox Sports, he could miss out on playing for the first six weeks of the regular season with the Patriots.
However, as speculated by ESPN, the 32-year-old athlete could end up sitting out the rest of the season due to the nature of his injury. According to reports, Vollmer has been dealing with a recurring hip injury.
His teammate Nate Solder, a left tackle for the Patriots, was one of the players who spoke out after learning about the seriousness of Vollmer's condition.
"Oh man, I love Sebastian, and whatever he needs or whatever it is, I'll always be there for him," he said according to ESPN. "Sebastian is an awesome guy, one of my best friends. There's so many things [he brings to the team], but as a group, we've got to move forward."
This isn't the first time that Vollmer was sidelined. Back in 2013, he broke his right leg during a match against the Miami Dolphins, which ended his season with the team. Also, in 2011, he missed quite a few games in the season due to separate injuries.
In response to Vollmer's decision, the Patriots have decided to replace him with Marcus Cannon, who also took his place in 2013 after he fractured his leg.
Aside from Vollmer, another player who was placed on the team's PUP list is running back Dion Lewis. According to Pro Football Talk, the athlete was placed on the list after the team found out that he will have to undergo surgery on his left knee. This means he will not be able to join the team during the first six weeks of the 2016 NFL season.
