Patriots lose sacks leader Carter to injured reserve

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots have placed defensive end Andre Carter on injured reserve.

Tuesday's move ends the season of the team's leader in sacks with 10 and sidelines a key player on a struggling defense. The Patriots have allowed the most yards in the NFL for nearly the entire season.

Carter started all 14 games. He injured his left quadriceps late in the first quarter of Sunday's 41-23 victory against the Denver Broncos and was driven off the field on a cart. He had signed as a free agent Aug. 8 after five years with the San Francisco 49ers and five with the Washington Redskins.

The Patriots also signed defensive lineman Cedric McKinley to the practice squad. He spent part of this season on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad.

"It's tough for him and it's tough for the team," cornerback Devin McCourty said. "He works incredibly hard and he's been having a great season so to lose a guy like that I think we just have to come together as a group. Guys will step up and we have to be able to play through it."

That might put more of a burden on the secondary to play better without Carter harassing the passer.

"Even if he was in there, I would still say we have to step up and make more plays and be better out there," McCourty said. "I think that goes for the whole group as a secondary."

Carter's absence should mean more playing time for defensive end Mark Anderson, a pass rushing specialist. He's started just one game but is second on the team with nine sacks.

"I'm going to do my best to step up and do whatever I've got to do to help the team out," Anderson said, "but he's a big part of the team and we're going to miss him."

The Patriots, though, have overcome injuries on defense this season. Starters Patrick Chung at safety and Brandon Spikes at linebacker were sidelined the last six games and the Patriots won all of them.

Now they'll try to do it against the Dolphins.

"Whatever 11 guys we put out there will have to get the job done," coach Bill Belichick said. "Whatever [offensive packages] they put out there we have to be ready to defend them."