BOSTON (AP) - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is expected to have right foot surgery on Thursday, the Boston Globe reported on its website on Wednesday night.
The operation is for a lingering stress fracture. The Globe, citing an unidentified source, reported Brady could delay the surgery to Monday but no later.
Messages were left by The Associated Press seeking comment from the Patriots.
Brady was listed on the Patriots' injury report with a foot injury for the last eight regular-season games and its playoff game but played in all of them. He also was listed with a right shoulder injury in those games, as he has been for several years.
He is coming off an outstanding season that could net him his second NFL MVP award. He threw for 3,900 yards and led the league in passer rating, touchdown passes (36) and fewest interceptions (four).
New England went 14-2 during the regular season and had home-field advantage for the AFC playoffs, but lost 28-21 to the New York Jets last Sunday.
Brady's foot injury first was listed on the injury report after the Patriots' 34-14 loss at Cleveland on Nov. 7, New England's final regular-season loss. He missed six practices for the last eight regular-season games and didn't participate fully in any of the others. He was listed as questionable once and probable for the other seven.
After a bye week, Brady participated fully in all three practices leading up to the playoff game against the Jets. But he had one of his worst performances of the season in that game, throwing his first interception in 12 games and being sacked five times. He completed 29 of 45 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns.
Brady also had season-ending surgery after he injured his left knee in the opening game of the 2008 season. He played in every game in the 2009 season despite having hand and rib injuries for much of the second half of the year.
