The outside linebacker, who missed all of his rookie season in 2008 and ended the year on injured reserve with a shin injury, played in Thursday's 7-6 loss to Cincinnati. But he only lasted one play before leaving the game.
On the play in question, Crable was covering Bengals tight end Daniel Coats during a 27-yard completion that ended in a fumble before being pulled from the game.
According to the Boston Globe, head coach Bill Belichick was asked if it was a medical situation or a coach's decision, to which he replied, "It was a little bit of both. It was kind of the rotation was set and he had a little soreness during the game, so we decided not to push that and put him back in."
Crable did not begin practicing until Aug. 9. He spent the first chunk of training camp on the physically unable to perform list with an undisclosed injury. He registered three tackles in New England's first preseason game against the Eagles on Aug. 13.
Crable was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 2008 draft.
