New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty has undergone shoulder surgery, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports. However, the surgery wasn't due to a serious shoulder injury, but was more of a “clean-up procedure.”

This is the time of year when players often undergo surgery to repair nagging ailments from season. Along those lines, Patriots safety Devin McCourty had surgery on his shoulder. Described to me as more of a clean-up procedure.

McCourty has had a history of shoulder-related ailments throughout his career. He underwent minor shoulder surgery in 2013 and suffered a separated shoulder in 2011. His shoulder problem showed up on the Patriots’ injury report in Week 17. However, he missed just 35 of 275 defensive snaps and played all 149 snaps during the AFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl.

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Despite his growing list of shoulder issues, McCourty has been remained fairly durable. He’s missed just five games in his NFL eight-year career. He played all 16 games in 2017, with 94 tackles, one interception, and five pass breakups.

McCourty is one of New England’s best players on a defense which was not very good last year. That was evident in the Super Bowl, as the Patriots were simply unable to get the stops they needed to beat the Philadelphia Eagles.

Luckily for the Patriots, McCourty’s injury doesn’t seem serious, and he should be back on the field in time for OTAs. Still, the Patriots could do with adding more talent around McCourty on that defense this offseason in preparation for another run to the Super Bowl next season.