Linebacker Dont’a Hightower was placed on the PUP list ahead of New England Patriots training camp with an undisclosed injury, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
“Hightower is coming back from an undisclosed physical ailment that kept him off the practice field in voluntary spring practices. A defensive captain who is one of the NFL’s hardest-hitting players at his position, he was seen working on a different field with others who aren’t yet fully cleared to practice.”
Hightower will be joined on the PUP by defensive tackle Alan Branch.
This is pretty noteworthy news considering Hightower got $19 million guaranteed from the Patriots this offseason.
It also is significant in light of another report that surfaced Monday. A report in which the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers were said to have abandoned their quests to sign the inside linebacker in free agency because he couldn’t pass a physical, which was described as “a big red flag.”
Hightower is among the most physical of all inside linebackers across the league. He’s a veritable brick wall in the run game, though that might have a lot to do with the fact he hasn’t been able to stay healthy throughout his career. The former Alabama star has played in just one full 16-game season since entering the NFL as a rookie in 2012.