Denver Broncos linebacker Joe Mays could miss the remainder of the season after suffering a broken leg in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 34-14 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night.
Broncos coach John Fox confirmed the injury at Monday's news conference and said Mays wasn't a likely candidate for short-term injured reserve.
Mays suffered a fractured fibula near his ankle after being inadvertently leg-whipped by a Saints player.
With the injury, a difficult season appears to be over for Mays, who was handed a $50,000 fine and a one-game suspension by the NFL for his hit on Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in Week 3. Back in March, things were looking better for Mays when he signed a three-year contract worth $12 million.
The Broncos could promote Mike Mohamed from their practice squad to take Mays' roster spot. They'll also get linebacker D.J. Williams back from his second suspension in a couple of weeks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.