Mayo decided to retire from the NFL after eight seasons Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

During his initial campaigns with the Patriots, Mayo was a play-making force, racking up 100-plus tackles in four of five seasons. The run included a whopping 175 tackles in 2010, while he forced at least one fumble each year. However, injuries have plagued the linebacker in the interim, with a pair of torn pectorals (2013 and 2015) and a torn patellar tendon (2014) marking a sudden end to the respective seasons. As he moves onto the post-football phase of his career, the Patriots will be in search of a consistent MLB.

Mayo (pectoral) is unlikely to be back with the Patriots in 2016, CSN New England reports.

EDGE Analysis

There's no chance Mayo will return under the terms of his current contract, but it wouldn't be all that surprising if he were to accept a pay cut to stay with the only team he's ever known. Either way, his days as a useful IDP are likely over, with the Patriots only viewing him as a two-down linebacker at this stage in his carer. Mayo also faces the challenge of recovering from a torn pectoral that he suffered during the playoffs.

Mayo underwent a procedure Wednesday to repair a torn pectoral, Dan Roche of WBZ AM Boston reports.

EDGE Analysis

For the second time in a three-year span, Mayo required surgery on a pectoral, which is yet another in a line of injury concerns for the eight-year pro. No matter, the middle linebacker logged a full regular season slate for the first time since 2012, accruing 47 tackles (35 solo) and one sack. Assuming he recovers fully, he'll likely serve in a situational role again next season after logging 36 percent of the defensive snaps in 2015.

Mayo (shoulder) will be placed on season-ending injured reserve, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports.

EDGE Analysis

Even though Mayo worked in a reduced role for much of the season, the Patriots may still suffer from his absence against a Denver team that wants to run the ball as much as possible. Jon Bostic, Darius Fleming and Dekoda Watson are the candidates to pick up early-down snaps alongside Jamie Collins (oblique) and Dont'a Hightower. Mayo's absence will become a much bigger issue if Collins is also unable to play.

Mayo was on the field for 36.2 percent of the Patriots' defensive snaps this past season, ESPN's Mike Reiss reports.

EDGE Analysis

In 16 games, Mayo recorded modest IDP numbers (47 tackles and a sack) while seeing a reduced role behind fellow linebackers Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower. Previously, Mayo had been a key cog in the team's defense when healthy, but his contract probably needs to be tweaked in order for him to remain in the team's linebacker mix in 2016.

Mayo was on the field for 23 of the Patriots' 80 snaps on defense in Sunday's win over the Colts, ESPN's Mike Reiss reports.

EDGE Analysis

He did not record a tackle in the contest and even with Dont'a Hightower sidelined, Mayo's role in the game was limited, with fellow LB Jonathan Freeny (47 snaps) actually absorbing more of Hightower's responsibilities in tandem with Jamie Collins (8- snaps). With just seven tackles in five games to date, Mayo is off the IDP radar these days.

Mayo was on the field for 16 of the Patriots' 72 snaps on defense in Sunday's win over the Bills, ESPN's Mike Reiss reports. Mayo recorded two tackles in the contest.

EDGE Analysis

Fellow Patriots' linebackers Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower are fantasy factors these days, but until Mayo gets increased snaps, he's off the fantasy radar.

Mayo was on the field for just 11 of 73 defensive snaps in Thursday's season opener against the Steelers, ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Fellow linebackers Jamie Collins (73 snaps ) and Dont'a Hightower (61 snaps) were busier than Mayo on Thursday, with Mayo recording just two tackles in the contest. We'll revisit Mayo's snap count in Week 2, but until he sees the field more, he's only an option in deeper IDP formats.

Mayo was on the field for 15 of 76 defensive snaps in Friday's preseason game against the Panthers, ESPN.com's Mike Reiss reports.

EDGE Analysis

In his limited time on the field Friday, Mayo recorded four tackles, while csnne.com notes that the veteran LB showed well against the Panthers' starters in his first game action since last October when he tore his patella tendon. Mayo is slated to start at middle linebacker for the Patriots this season, an assignment that provides him with IDP utility, thanks to his knack for racking up tackles when healthy.

Mayo -- who tore his patellar tendon last October -- is not yet 100 percent, ESPN.com reports. Mayo, who recorded 53 tackles in six games for the Patriots last season, has yet to see the field through the team's OTAs and minicamp and it's unclear how much work he'll be able to see once training camp starts. Once Mayo reestablishes his health, however, the 29-year-old is in line start at linebacker for the Pats, along with Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins.