Cameron Wake carted off with leg injury (Video)

The Miami Dolphins are trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008, back when Chad Pennington and Tony Sparano were the quarterback and head coach of the franchise.

Much of that postseason dreaming is tied up in the defensive line, which much have sustained a major blow in their Thursday Night Football matchup against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Defensive end Cameron Wake was injured toward the end of the third quarter and could not put any pressure on his left leg, needing trainers to help him off the field.

Wake was eventually brought to the sideline and without much evaluation, placed on a cart and brought into the locker room. Wake is not expected to be back in the game.

This offseason was the time when general manager Dennis Hickey attempted to put a group together to challenge the Patriots for the AFC East title. Hickey landed the biggest free agent in the National Football League, signing defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to a six-year deal for a record-setting $118 million. With Suh, Wake and defensive end Olivier Vernon, the Dolphins thought they had one of the best lines in football.

To this point, Suh only has one sack and has largely been invisible. Meanwhile, if Wake is lost for any amount of time, Miami will be looking at plenty more double-teams on Suh and considerable help on Vernon. Without Wake, the Dolphins would be in an immense amount of trouble.