FOXBOROUGH -- News of Leigh Bodden's season-ending injury only makes the Patriots secondary that much younger.

Bodden, who was placed on season-ending injured reserve today, has an injured rotator cuff, according to multiple sources. The injury is a blow for the Patriots as they lose their most experienced corner. Among those left behind at the position are Devin McCourty, the Patriots' 2010 first-round selection and second-year player Darius Butler.

In March, Bodden signed a four-year contract with the Patriots worth a maximum of $22 million, with $10 million guaranteed. Bodden joined the Patriots in 2009, hoping for a chance to prove himself in his seventh season after stops in Cleveland and Detroit.

With the Patriots, he shared the team lead in interceptions with five in 2009 and had a career-high 10 tackles against Denver last October.

Bodden missed most of this preseason with a knee injury, but returned to play against the St. Louis Rams last week in his preseason debut.