Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com reports that New England Patriots defensive end Ty Warren has a hip injury that threatens his availability for the 2010 season.

Reiss reports the injury is similar to the one that New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez had, and that surgery is likely to be required for him to continue his career. Rodriguez has surgery to repair a torn labrum in 2009. The procedure was performed by Vail, Colorado-based Dr. Marc Phillipon, who also operated on retired NFL quarterback Kurt Warner last off-season.

A first-round pick (13th overall) out of Texas A&M in 2003, Warren has started 92 games for the Patriots, totaling 373 tackles and 20.5 quarterback sacks from the left defensive end spot. Warren also has 54 tackles and a quarterback sack in 15 playoff games (11 starts).

Warren (6-5, 300) has missed just seven games in his NFL career, and signed a five-year, $33.6 million contract extension in 2007 that included $18 million in guarantees and a $2.9 million base salary in 2010.

Should Warren miss the season, Gerard Warren would be his likely replacement in the starting lineup