National Football League

Pats place RG Neal on injured reserve

Published Dec. 2, 2010 5:59 p.m. ET

foxsports

The New England Patriots have placed right guard Stephen Neal on injured reserve.

The 10-year veteran will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury that had sidelined him for the past three games. The Patriots announced the move on Thursday but did not say who would take Neal's place on the roster for Monday night's game against the New York Jets.

Neal has been New England's starting right guard since 2004 but has missed games due to injury every year since 2006. The Patriots originally signed him in 2001 as a free agent out of Cal State-Bakersfield where he was an outstanding wrestler but didn't play football.

Patriots starting right tackle Nick Kaczur has been on injured reserve since Oct. 12 with a back injury.