Cornerback Devin McCourty left Sunday's win over the Chicago Bears in the second quarter with what is being called a rib injury. He did not return.
The good news is that after the game, he told the Globe's Monique Walker that he was "alright," while telling the Herald's Karen Guregian he was "OK." The bad news is that the significance of the injury is not yet known. All Bill Belichick would say after the game was that the medical staff did not clear McCourty to play the second half.
"His injury, or anybody else's injury, is all the same. It's up to the medical department -- if they clear a player to play. If they don't, he doesn't," Belichick said.
McCourty made the tackle and forced fumble on a Johnny Knox reception early in the second quarter that allowed Gary Guyton to scoop up the loose ball and take it back for a score, making it 21-0 at the time.
McCourty, a rookie out of Rutgers, has quickly become the Patriots' top corner this season, and one of the defense's standout players. He leads the team with six interceptions (tied for second-most in the NFL) and is third with 67 tackles.