Its been a tough first couple of years in the league for Patriot defensive lineman Dominique Easley, in terms of health. The former 2014 first round pick saw his second season cut short today, as the team placed him on Season-Ending Injured Reserve with a thigh injury.According to CSNNE's Tom E. Curran, the Patriots have placed the second year pro on the IR for the second time in his brief career.

Easley suffered an apparent leg injury in the second half of the team's 27-6 win over the Houston Texans, Sunday night. After being helped off the field, the second year tackle out of Florida did not return. As more news was brought to light yesterday, it was confirmed that the 23-year-old suffered a thigh injury during the game.

This season's trip to the IR falls just two days short of a year from the first round pick's first IR stint. Last season, Easley was shut down on December 17, with a knee injury.

Injuries are nothing new to the talented defensive lineman, as his collegiate career was plagued by multiple ACL tears.

In what was being regarded as a breakout season for young lineman, Easley had already exceeded his numbers from last year, across the board. In 11 regular season games he had made 15 total tackles and tallied two sacks, while adding a strong interior pass rush against opposing quarterbacks.

On the bright side for New England, the man most likely to fill the void left by Easley's absence, Akiem Hicks, had a breakout game on Sunday. Spelling Easley throughout the night, then taking over for him late, the fourth year pro tallied two sacks, two tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries along with six total tackles against the Texans.

Between Hicks and defensive end Jabaal Sheard, who the team has used on the inside in three end packages at times this season, the Patriots should be able to compensate for the loss of Easley in the passing game. As far as running downs, the team still has Alan Branch and Sealver Siliga healthy along the interior.

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