Alex Carrington injury: torn quad, placed on Injured Reserve

Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Alex Carrington tore a quad muscle in Sunday's 27-20 loss to the New York Jets, and was carted off the field late in the contest. Bills head coach Doug Marrone confirmed the tear with reporters on Monday, saying that the starting defensive lineman is likely going to miss the remainder of the 2013 season as a result. The team has already placed him on Injured Reserve.

#Bills DT Alex Carrington has a quadriceps tear and will be most likely be out for the season.

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) September 23, 2013

Carrington, a fourth-year player out of Arkansas State, emerged as a full-time starter this summer after a very strong training camp in which he quickly assimilated to a new defense being installed by coordinator Mike Pettine. He had recorded 10 tackles in the team's first three games of the season as a starting defensive end, and was the subject of ardent praise from his coaches all summer.

Now he's likely out for the rest of the year, meaning that it's possible that we've seen the last of Carrington in a Bills uniform - he is scheduled for unrestricted free agency next March. Alan Branch and Corbin Bryant will see an increase in playing time on the Bills' defensive line; Branch has seen more reps this season and is the more established player, while Bryant is closer to what Carrington offers from a physical standpoint.

With Carrington on IR, a roster spot opens up - and it looks like it'll be filled by defensive lineman Jay Ross, who made the Bills' 53-man roster coming out of training camp but was cut to make room for extra cornerbacks.

Last few hours with my daughter then back to work #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/iDf93oKhyF

— Jay Ross (@PortCityMade) September 23, 2013