FOXBORO, MA - MAY 15: Bryan Stork from Florida State, a fourth-round draft selection, speaks to the media during the New England Patriots Rookie Minicamp at Gillette Stadium on May 15, 2014 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
The New England Patriots will be forced to be without their starting center for at least eight weeks. The team placed Bryan Stork on injured reserve with designation to return due to a concussion that held him out of all four preseason games.
Short-term IR will keep Stork from practicing for six weeks and cannot be activated until he's been on the list for eight weeks.
Stork, a fourth-round pick in 2014, was a solid lineman for the Patriots last season after joining the starting lineup to start 11 games for New England. He played very well as a rookie and had high expectations entering this season.
Ryan Wendell will likely be Stork's replacement during his absence, but that may not come in Week 1. Wendell also dealt with a shoulder injury in camp and didn't practice until Aug. 24.
(h/t Jeff Howe)
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