The Patriots’ offensive line could be even more shorthanded this week based on Wednesday’s injury report
In their season opener last week, the New England Patriots played shorthanded on the offensive line with starting guards Cole Strange (knee) and Mike Onwenu (ankle) inactive. This week, that group could be even thinner based off of Wednesday’s injury report.
In addition to Strange and Onwenu being listed as limited – as they were all of last week – the Patriots added three other offensive linemen to the report. Starting left tackle Trent Brown (concussion) and last week’s starting right guard Sidy Sow (concussion) both did not participate. Center David Andrews (hamstring) was limited as well.
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Brown and Sow being in concussion protocol comes as a surprise given both played the full 80 snaps in Sunday afternoon’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Given the tricky nature of concussions, there’s a real chance Brown and/or Sow aren’t available this week against the Miami Dolphins.
That would leave the Patriots very shorthanded against the Dolphins up front, especially if Strange and Onwenu are also still out (Belichick said on Wednesday morning both are ‘day-by-day’ at this point). Including Andrews’ injury the Patriots now have four of their five main starters listed on the injury report, as well as one of their top backups. Their healthy offensive linemen at this point are starting right tackle Calvin Anderson, last week’s starting left guard rookie Atonio Mafi, backup center rookie Jake Andrews, and at tackle recent trade acquisitions Vederian Lowe and Tyrone Wheatley. The team also has interior offensive linemen James Ferentz and Kody Russey and tackle Andrew Stueber on the practice squad.
The Patriots may be preparing to boost their offensive line if needed. According to a report earlier on Wednesday, the team has shown interest in free agent tackle La’el Collins.
In addition to their tackles, the Patriots also have two wide receivers listed on Wednesday’s injury report. DeVante Parker (knee) remains limited, and rookie Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) was added to the report this week, and was limited on Wednesday as well.
As for Miami, the Dolphins have nine players listed on their side of Wednesday’s injury report. Of the nine, running back Raheem Mostert (knee) was the only one not to participate. Among other notable injuries, tackle Terron Armstead (back, ankle, knee) and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (oblique) were limited, while rookie running back De’Von Achane (shoulder), cornerback Xavien Howard (thumb), and safety Brandon Jones (knee) were all full participants.
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Socci’s Notebook: A rookie’s intention, his classmates’ contribution and a newcomer’s condition
Sowing The Seeds
After practicing extensively at tackle in training camp, Sidy Sow made his first NFL start at right guard (Photo by Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Announcement of Sunday’s inactives shortly before 3 p.m. produced an almost audible collective gasp across New England along with threads of laments on social media at the sight of two names: guards Mike Onwenu and Cole Strange.
Yet to fully overcome injuries that made both unavailable throughout the preseason schedule, their absence was filled by Sidy Sow (right) and Atonio Mafi (left). Two rookies. One coming off a training camp spent mostly at tackle. The other coming off a college career started on defense.
Oh, and they had to line up across from one of the best defensive fronts in the NFL. Philadelphia had a league-high 70 sacks in 2022, recording the third-highest total in league history. Then the Eagles added first-round pick Jalen Carter from Georgia to this year’s group.
But on Sunday, they didn’t get their first sack until the final three minutes and finished with just two. Philly did hit Mac Jones seven times and forced him into two non-scripted runs. The Eagles also held the Pats to 3.5 yards a carry and had five tackles for loss.
While results were mixed, the signs are encouraging. Both ‘kid’ guards became 60-minute men, playing every snap at varied paces. Between them, there was one penalty (a hold by Mafi) in 160 reps. They hung in there, giving offensive line coach Adrian Klemm a foundation to work from.
“The one thing that I left with feeling good about was the competitive spirit,” Klemm said on Tuesday morning. “They were never broken. Sometimes you worry about that, a guy coming into his first as a rookie — I’ve been there before — where if things don’t go well a certain moment, they maybe snowball. Those guys kept truckin’ away.
“They struggled a little bit at times, but for the most part, they were up for it. We made some adjustments a few times during the game. They were able to build up off of those things and carry that into the next series. There’s some things that are really encouraging. And they understand coming out of it, there are a number of things that we need to work on and they need to get better at, but there are some building blocks.”
Offering a brief self-assessment without the benefit of a film review, Sow saw it similarly from his seat post-game at his locker.
“There’s always some good plays (and) some bad plays,” he said. “It was my first game, obviously, against that kind of front, which is a big challenge. But I felt like I held my own a little bit out there.”
Regarding his shift inside after practicing extensively at tackle, the soft-spoken Sow gave no hint of how much he repped at guard since training camp. Nor did Klemm.
“I was in and out of whatever position (coaches) wanted me to play,” Sow said. “I didn’t really ask questions or count the reps. They put me out there and I just go to work.”
“History here is always about ‘The more you can do,’” said Klemm, sounding a familiar Foxborough refrain. “So even though he’s been focusing primarily on tackle, we still reviewed things with him at guard so he could have it in the back of his mind. You just never know how things pan out.
“He was asked to make that move and he went out there and tried to compete at a high level. He played at left guard in college, so he was actually playing on the opposite side (Sunday).”
Despite all of the above, Sow felt he belonged.
“I think I was pretty calm from the beginning,” he said. “It really hit me the first preseason game, with all the emotions. (This) one, I knew it was serious business and it wasn’t time for me to get all excited and flustered because it’s the first one.”
Going The Distance
Despite missing training camp, Calvin Anderson went wire-to-wire at right tackle in Sunday’s opener. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
In addition to Sow and Mafi, veterans Calvin Anderson (right tackle), David Andrews (center) and Trent Brown (left tackle) lined up for every snap. All except Andrews blocked on Ryland’s two extra points.
Among the five, Anderson’s stamina is most surprising, considering his summer. Diagnosed with an undisclosed, self-described “serious” illness, Anderson wasn’t activated off the non-football injury list until Aug. 29.
Still, the 300-pound ex-Bronco went the distance in his 13th career start. So how’d he do it? With plenty of help, hard work and a smart plan.
“Going through something very difficult, missing all that time, if you’re going to get back, you really have to be really proactive about your recovery,” Anderson said before crediting the Pats’ conditioning and rehab team for his expedited recovery. “Luckily we’ve got really great guys in there.”
Head strength & conditioning coach Moses Cabrera and director of performance and rehabilitation Johann Bilsborough collaborated with Anderson to plot and push through his regiment. Given less than two weeks, he practiced his way into the lineup.
“There was talk when it started, ‘How are we going to manage this because of however many practices I got?’ It (wasn’t) a lot before today,” Anderson said on Sunday. “There’s no substitute for football. Anybody that plays will tell you that. There’s nothing like playing football to get in football shape.
“We just had to fast-track it. I got cleared super late. But that’s life sometimes. You have to overcome those things. And there’s no excuses in the league. We come here to do a job.”
Finishing it is as important as starting it.
“I didn’t want to go into the game or not go into the game while my guys were out there and do some partial thing,” Anderson said. “I was real clear about that in our preparation coming back. I want to be out there with the guys.
“I’m going to grind it out and not just be out there and be a liability; but to be out there and help the guys win. I came here for a reason. That was really important to me.”
And very impressive to his position coach.
“There was a point in time in the game that he was gasping (for air) and he was tired,” Klemm said. “But he pushed through it. I was like, ‘Hey, you okay?’ He said, ‘No coach, I got it. I’ll let you know.’ I was proud of him, just fighting and staying with it. He did a good job. As the weeks go by, he’ll get in better and better shape.
“He’s working hard every day to get back to his normal self. I think he’s on the right path to doing so. I was pleased with him.”
Andrews, the seventh-year captain, felt similarly.
“I definitely made sure to let him know how much I appreciated his effort Sunday,” Andrews said in a Wednesday press conference. “It’s really hard missing a training camp. You need a training camp, (especially) in a new system.
“It says a lot to his work ethic to get back out there and go wire-to-wire like he did Sunday for us.”
As for a late-game holding penalty that nullified a two-point conversion run by Jones, Klemm noted that Anderson’s “hand carriage” dropped too much as he engaged defensive end Brandon Graham. Eventually, he lost his balance and forced Graham to the ground.
It provided Klemm a teaching moment, conveyed with a catchy phrase.
“You never want to have your hands at your hips,” Klemm explained. “That’s like going into a fight with your hands in your pockets. You just always want to have them protect your chest.
“I always look at it like your breastplate is the steering wheel to your soul. If the defender gets their hands on your breastplate, you know you’re in trouble.”
Bob Socci is in his 11th season calling play-by-play for the Patriots Radio Network on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
