If the New England Patriots are to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles this season, they will have to do it minus star defensive linebacker Dont'a Hightower. Something that will make the road to a title a bit tougher.

According to Field Yates of ESPN, Hightower has been placed by the team on injured reserve, essentially putting an end to his season. In five games played this season, Hightower had 12 tackles and two sacks. Not exactly an incredible resume this season, but that is void of some context, as the linebacker is indeed a force to be reckoned with.

Hightower sustained a pectoral muscle tear in Week 7’s 23-7 win over the Atlanta Falcons and missed the Patriots’ subsequent game against the Los Angeles Chargers. New England had a Week 9 bye, but apparently, the extra rest wouldn’t be enough to get Hightower in playing shape.

The Patriots, however, have already put a safety net in anticipation of Hightower’s lengthy absence by signing defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois. The 30-year-old Jean-Francois, who played in six games for the Green Bay, Packers before being released on Nov. 1, is now the de facto replacement for Hightower.

The 6-2 Patriots emerge out of their bye this Sunday with a road game against the 3-5 Denver Broncos. While losing a player as good as Dont'a Hightower isn't ideal, the fact New England gets to face a team trending in the wrong direction next is, if nothing else, a nice way to try to figure things out on the fly.

Also, you know, the Pats still have Tom Brady. A pretty big plus.