Aaron Hernandez ankle injury will result in missed time, but perhaps not six weeks

Aaron Hernandez will miss a few weeks as a result of his ankle injury, but it won't necessarily be the full six weeks that's been reported elsewhere, according to CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora.

Hernandez is helped off after his ankle injury. (AP)

The injury that Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez suffered on Sunday afternoon is a nightmare for New England: high ankle sprains aren't known as quick-healing injuries and Hernandez is critical to what New England does. There is a touch of good news though, as CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reports that Hernandez will miss a few weeks with the injury, but it might not be as much as has been reported elsewhere.

Hernandez suffered the injury Sunday when wide receiver Julian Edelman rolled up on his ankle. Hernandez never recorded a single reception in New England's loss to the Cardinals.

The injury to Hernandez, who was expected to experience a breakout season in 2012 after posting 79 catches for 910 yards and seven touchdowns in 2011, is debilitating for the Pats offense. They used Hernandez and fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski on every single snap in the first game of the season, a win.

Bill Belichick, obviously concerned, didn't really expound a whole lot on the injury when asked if he could confirm that Hernandez didn't suffer a broken bone in the ankle.

"I don’t really have any update on his status yet, I think they’re still looking at him," Belichick said.

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