Taylor limped off during the closing stages of United's 3-0 defeat by Chelsea with Pardew having already used his three substitutions, and the manager later admitted the damage could be bad.
Taylor is due to undergo a scan which will reveal the extent of the injury, and while the most optimistic view is that he could return to action within six weeks, Press Association Sport understands the Magpies are concerned privately that he could be sidelined for months.
Fabricio Coloccini left the pitch before half-time and is also a doubt for next weekend's trip to Norwich with Pardew having already indicated that his replacement today, James Perch, will start at Carrow Road.
The Magpies squad is looking increasingly thin with their only other specialist central defender, Mike Williamson, already on the casualty list.