Source: Patriots WR Randy Moss diagnosed with separated shoulder

Wide receiver Randy Moss was diagnosed with a separated shoulder following the Patriots' season and that was the reason he did not play in the Pro Bowl, a league source said on Monday.

The severity of the injury is not known, although rest alone can often heal a separated shoulder.

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Moss had surfaced on the injury report with a shoulder ailment three days after the Patriots' 20-17 overtime loss to the Broncos on Oct. 11. He remained on the injury report because of the shoulder through Nov. 6, although he played through the injury.

Moss had taken himself out of the Broncos game for two plays after a 36-yard reception in the third quarter. On the play, in which he caught a pass over the middle and then was running down the field, Moss considered a lateral before tucking the ball and then having three Broncos drive him into the ground.

Still, Moss returned to the game, and it is unclear if that was the play in which he injured his shoulder.

Moss started all 16 games this season and finished second on the team with 83 receptions for 1,264 yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns. He played in approximately 85 percent of the team's offensive snaps, easily a team-high among receivers.

Moss had played through significant back pain in the team's 26-10 win over the Falcons on Sept. 27. The back injury first surfaced Sept. 25 and had Moss on the injury report through Oct. 1.

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