Pro Bowl left guard Logan Mankins underwent ACL surgery after Super Bowl XLVI, and he hopes to be ready in time for training camp, according to ESPN. Mankins actually played through a torn ACL, according to the report, and he took a hit on his knee early in the Super Bowl that limited him in the game.
Mankins originally injured the knee in Week 16 against the Dolphins while playing at left tackle for Matt Light, whose ankle unexpectedly flared up before the game. Mankins missed the regular-season finale — the only absence of his seven-year career — before returning for the playoffs.
Before the Mankins news broke, the Patriots signed Gallery to a one-year deal that appeared to be a solid acquisition in terms of depth. But with Gallery's best performances coming at left guard, the entire situation has come into clearer focus.
If Mankins can return to the field in time for training camp, he should be OK for the regular season. But if there are any setbacks, the Patriots have a plan in place with a good veteran like Gallery in the picture.
The extension Mankins signed last summer keeps him with the team through 2016.
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