Key rookie projected to take over at Patriots left tackle spot
Another injury has the Patriots left tackle spot in the hands of a rookie heading into a Thursday night matchup against the New York Jets.
Patriots left tackle update: it’s as thin as ever.
As New England gets ready for a big “Thursday Night Football” matchup against the division rival New York Jets, a new injury appears to be forcing them to turn to a key rookie to protect quarterback Jacoby Brissett’s blind side. Thanks to a new knee injury for Vederian Lowe, the Patriots are projected to start Caedan Wallace at left tackle this week.
Wallace, a rookie out of Penn State, played right tackle in college, and mostly repped on the right side during Patriots training camp. He did get a look at left tackle for a few practices early on, but quickly geared back to a backup right tackle role. Now, with Chuks Okorafor leaving the team and Lowe hurt once again and absent at practice, Wallace may be forced into the starting lineup, and at a spot he’s rarely played in his career.
MORE: Jalen Reagor’s time with Patriots comes to a strange end
Wallace did get his feet wet at left tackle in the preseason. Out of 91 offensive snaps in the preseason, he played 25 on the left side and 66 on the right, according to Pro Football Focus. He played exclusively as a “Jumbo” tight end for 18 snaps in Week 1 against the Bengals, and nine more snaps against the Seahawks last Sunday, before checking in for two snaps at left tackle during overtime.
Mike Onwenu will stick at right tackle. Patriots offensive line coach Scott Peters was recently asked if they’d consider playing Onwenu at left tackle, and Peters said bluntly, “Not at this point.”
So, it’ll be up to Wallace to try and solidify the Patriots’ left tackle spot. The coaches have been asked repeatedly over the summer and the early part of the regular season whether Wallace can handle playing left tackle at this level, after playing right tackle in college, and they’ve consistently alluded to the learning curve of working in an NFL offense versus college. Never mind that the physical adjustment of switching from the right side to the left side is simple, but not easy.
The Pats do have Demontrey Jacobs and Zach Thomas on the 53-man roster at tackle, and Caleb Jones on the practice squad. So, if they have to deal with even more injuries at the position, it’s likely one of them gets on the field.
But Wallace and the Patriots don’t have much of a choice, now. The rookie has been here all season, has at least gotten some reps at left tackle, and so he’s their best option to play left tackle.
And with the team undermanned and facing a short week against the Jets, that’s what he’s going to have to do.
Patriots release tackle from injured reserve
In case you missed it, the Patriots also released a tackle from the organization earlier this week, waiving Tyrone Wheatley Jr. from injured reserve. This is presumably an injury settlement, which will make him a free agent and able to sign elsewhere.
Wheatley was never really in the mix for the Patriots left tackle spot. He originally came to New England before the 2023 season in a trade with the Browns, which sent running back Pierre Strong Jr. to Cleveland. Vederian Lowe also came to the Patriots via trade with the Vikings for a sixth-round pick, and ended up sticking around as their starting left tackle.
MORE: Patriots defense dealt major blow with new injury update
Lowe would presumably be the left tackle when he’s ready to return from his knee injury, but he was also dealing with an abdomen issue prior to last Sunday. So, it’s fair to wonder if Lowe can be relied upon from a durability and availability standpoint. All eyes are on Wallace to make a difference on the blind side Thursday night.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
10 takeaways from the Patriots' overtime loss to the Seahawks
Key sequence
Sep 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) blocks the field goal attempt by New England Patriots place kicker Joey Slye (13) in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium. Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
The most impactful sequence in this game came with about four minutes to go in the fourth quarter. After a long Antonio Gibson run the Patriots had the ball just outside of the red zone leading 23-20. A field goal would give them plenty of cushion, while a touchdown would have likely put the game away.
On the first two plays the Patriots managed just four yards total, setting up a 3rd & 6 from Seattle’s 21 yard line. Jacoby Brissett, who did a great job all day using his legs to extend plays and create in the pass game, failed to get away from pressure on this drop back as both Layden Robinson and Mike Onwenu got beat resulting in a nine-yard sack.
That pushed the Patriots back to a 48-yard field goal, which was blocked. Seattle then used the short field to drive and get a field goal of its own, sending the game to overtime.
Had the Patriots pass protected better, had Brissett been able to throw the ball away, or had the field goal unit not missed a man in protection, this game probably would have ended differently. All highlight the limited margin for error this team has.
After the game, Brissett took responsibility for the sequence. “It was just a bad play by me,” he said. “I was trying to get the ball out and I just didn’t want to be careless with the ball and [have] somebody strip sack me from behind because I felt somebody coming from behind. Yeah. So [I] was trying to get the ball out. It was just a bad play by me.”
End of half mismanagement
Sep 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) tackles New England Patriots running back JaMycal Hasty (39) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
While that was probably the most costly sequence for the Patriots on offense it wasn’t the only lapse. There were a few other moments – specifically on offense – that will get a closer look as this game is dissected in the coming days. Another came at the end of the first half.
The Patriots got the ball at the end of the half down 14-13 with two timeouts left (part of the reason they were missing one was having to call one earlier due to having 12 men on the field on defense, another blunder). While they did have the ball in position for a two-minute drive they were also backed up to their own goal line, as the previous Seahawks punt pinned them at their own eight yard line.
There’s two cases to be made here – one to try and push the ball down the field and another to simply run the clock and get into halftime down one without giving the opponent a chance for a double-score (the Seahawks got the ball after half). The Patriots instead tried to do both, and it cost them.
On first down the team ran a shotgun handoff to JaMycal Hasty, then let the clock run down. It seemed like they were willing to head to halftime. That changed with the second down play though, which had the Patriots line up in five wide and try to throw. Brissett’s pass to Hunter Henry was knocked down (and nearly intercepted), stopping the clock.
Instead of running the clock on 3rd & 8, the Patriots elected to throw again, Brissett was pressured almost immediately, and narrowly avoided a sack on the goal line. He ended up throwing the ball away though which stopped the clock and allowed Seattle to get the ball back with all three timeouts.
Seattle was helped further by a 23-yard punt return allowed by the Patriots’ coverage team. That all led to a field goal to close out the first half – three points that ended up being crucial at the end of the game.
Had the Patriots fully committed to pushing the ball down the field they may have ended up in a similar situation, but at least would have had an extra down to try throwing the ball instead of the minimal run. Had they kept running they would have likely taken the game to halftime. Sure, Seattle could have started using its timeouts but at the very least, then they would have gotten the ball back without a chance to stop the clock.
“Just lack of execution. That’s what it comes down to,” Mayo said when asked after the game about his team’s inability to score at the end of halves. “I felt like we were in shape, but as the game wore on, there were these little mental errors that ended up being plays, and just got to do better.”
Overtime decision-making
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 15: New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo looks on during the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Gillette Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
The final big consequential decision came on the Patriots’ lone overtime drive. They quickly got to a 3rd & 1, but were unable to pick up the first down – punting the ball away and never getting it back.
On the third down the Patriots tried a ‘trick’ play. They went with an unbalanced offensive line, moving Caedan Wallace (who had come in at left tackle as a replacement for Vederian Lowe when Lowe got hurt at the end of regulation) to the right side next to Mike Onwenu, and using Hunter Henry as the ‘left tackle.’ They also motioned Tyquan Thornton into the backfield in a split backs look opposite Rhamodnre Stevenson as an extra wrinkle.
Despite having their three best run blockers all next to each other – with Layden Robinson – joining Onwenu and Wallace on the right side – the Patriots’ line got blown off the ball and Stevenson was stopped in the backfield on a handoff up the middle. Even if the play had worked, it would have come back due to an illegal formation penalty with Wallace ending up uncovered at the end of the line after Thornton motioned.
That left the Patriots with a 4th & 1 from their own 39 yard line. Despite Seattle’s offense moving the ball well in the second half the team punted. Asked about the decision to not go for it after the game, Jerod Mayo told reporters “I would say there’s some consideration. There’s always consideration in those weird spots, especially when you get on the plus side of the field. I did what I thought was best.”
Defensive miscommunication
Sep 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) scores a touchdown against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
The Patriots operational issues weren’t just on offense. They got bit a few times on defense too, with the biggest such play coming late in the first quarter.
On the Seahawks’ first drive the Patriots were able to hold star wide receiver D.K. Metcalf in check. He was able to get a big play on the second drive though, and relatively effortlessly too. On a 2nd & 5 from around midfield Metcalf ran a go from the slot. Both Christian Gonzalez and Kyle Dugger were on that side, but they both stepped down to play the flat. That left Gonzalez running alone up the sideline as Geno Smith hit him for a 56-yard touchdown.
“Miscommunication,” Gonzalez said when asked about the play after the game. “You can’t hide that in the secondary. When that happens in the secondary, it goes for a big play. We’ll get it fixed. We’ll be alright.”
That play was the highlight, but Metcalf was an issue for the Patriots’ defense for most of the afternoon. He finished with 10 catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. Not all of that was on Gonzalez, but he did beat the second-year cornerback a few times after Gonzalez had limited star Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase last week.
Red zone offense
Sep 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) scores against Seattle Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) in the second half at Gillette Stadium. Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
After going 1-for-4 in the red zone in the opener, Jerod Mayo called it a point of emphasis this week for the offense. That came with mixed results. They ended up going 2-for-4, not including the drive late in the fourth quarter where they got to the 21 before Jacoby Brissett was sacked.
The first drive looked effortless, and ended with Ja’Lynn Polk’s first career touchdown catch. After that though they stalled out twice and kicked field goals. On the fourth trip they almost left without any points when Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled on the goal line, with the ball being recovered by guard Michael Jordan.
From there the Patriots turned to two unique looks to punch the ball in. An I-formation with backup offensive lineman Nick Leverett at fullback got the ball to the doorstep, and then Stevenson got a direct snap in a Wildcat formation and scored.
Red zone offense still looks to be a work in progress for this Patriots team. While they did find some success on Sunday, it wasn’t the kind of replicable execution that’s ideal in that part of the field.
Career day for Hunter Henry
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 15: Hunter Henry #85 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball during the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at Gillette Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images)
The Patriots had more success throwing the ball in Week 2 than they did in Week 1. That was largely due to the play of one player – tight end Hunter Henry.
Henry finished the game with eight catches on 10 targets for a career-high 109 yards. He nearly single-handedly carried the passing game – Ja’Lynn Polk was second for the Patriots in both categories with two catches for 12 yards.
Two key things helped Henry have a big day. He made plays after the catch, picking up hidden yardage recently. On top of that, he did a good job of adjusting when the play broke structure, and giving Jacoby Brissett an outlet as he scrambled.
That performance was massive, especially because the Patriots once again got limited production from their receivers. Polk and K.J. Osborn were the only two wide receivers who saw targets in this game, catching a combined three passes on five targets for 19 yards.
Eventually the Patriots are going to need more production out of their wide receiver room to be able to make their passing game a threat defenses have to respect. While they work on that though, Henry could end up being the one who shoulders being the team’s top pass catcher.
Where is Pop Douglas?
Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas (3) warms up before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
One wide receiver who was noticeably absent from the box score was Pop Douglas. Despite getting his fair share of snaps Douglas wasn’t targeted once. This comes a week after Douglas was targeted just three times against Cincinnati.
“We have to get him going,” Jerod Mayo told reporters after the game when asked about Douglas. “We have to scheme up some things for him. He’s one of our most explosive players, and that’s on us as coaches to put it together.”
Encouraging signs from the running back duo
Sep 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson (4) runs the ball against the Seattle Seahawks in the second half at Gillette Stadium. Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
This was another game with a significant workload for Rhamondre Stevenson. He carried the ball 21 times for 81 yards, and caught another two passes on five targets.
At the same time, the Patriots got more from backup running back Antonio Gibson than they did last week. Gibson carried the ball 11 times for 96 yards, including a 45-yarder late in the game.
Two weeks into the season Stevenson is on pace for 433 touches this season. That’s nearly 100 more than Christian McCaffrey led the league with last year (339).
At some point the Patriots are going to need to consider what’s best for Stevenson in the long-term, both in terms of this full season and seasons down the road. He is their most effective weapon, but he won’t continue to be if he gets too banged up too early. Given the game Gibson had, we’ll see if the coaching staff is more willing to split carries moving forwards.
Player of the game
Sep 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots defensive end Keion White (99) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
This was the second week in a row the Patriots got a major performance from Keion White. He added another sack and a half, plus had an additional play where he got into the backfield clean early, and set up a sack for his teammates. White got pressures from multiple alignments, rushing both up the middle and on the edge.
One of the biggest questions facing the Patriots’ defense heading into the regular season was how they’d generate a pass rush organically, without having to blitz or run line games. So far, White is proving emphatically he can be that guy.
Injuries to monitor
Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (59) blocks Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. (3) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
The Patriots suffered two injuries to key players in this game. Linebacker and defensive signal-caller Ja’Whaun Bentley left in the first half with a shoulder injury, and did not return. Starting left tackle Vederian Lowe got hurt on the Patriots’ final offensive play of regulation, and didn’t return. Lowe left due to a knee injury, but was dealing with an abdominal injury coming into the game as well.
Neither player will have much time to rest with the Patriots playing again on Thursday. Both will be tough to replace, making a difficult week for the coaching staff even harder.
Lowe in particular proves a challenge to fill in for. The Patriots’ most logical backup left tackle – Chuks Okorafor – left the squad on Saturday and is considering retirement, per multiple reports. If he doesn’t return this week the Patriots will be left with rookie right tackle Caedan Wallce – who filled in for Lowe on Sunday – or waiver claims Demontrey Jacobs, Zach Thomas, or practice squander Caleb Jones.
