Report: Patriots' Sanu needs surgery for lingering ankle injury

New England Patriots wide receiver Mohamed Sanu requires surgery after a high ankle sprain failed to heal on its own, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Sanu suffered the injury on a punt return against the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 17, his third game with the Patriots, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.

He was largely unproductive in eight regular-season outings with New England during 2019, hauling in 207 yards and one touchdown. The 30-year-old had one catch for 5 yards in the Patriots' playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans. He was acquired from the Atlanta Falcons for a second-round draft pick before the trade deadline.

With a non-guaranteed base salary of $6.5 million for 2020, Sanu could wind up as a salary cap casualty this offseason.