Latest shakeups at tackle for the Patriots
Prior to Friday’s practice, New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo announced rookie tackle Caedan Wallace will go on IR.
The New England Patriots have battled issues with tackle depth all season. Things are only getting worse as they get ready for their Week 5 game against the Miami Dolphins.
Prior to Friday morning’s practice, head coach Jerod Mayo announced rookie tackle Caedan Wallace is being placed on IR by the team. Wallace suffered a knee injury in last week’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers and hasn’t been at practice since.
Details and the extent of Wallace’s injury hasn’t been reported. Mayo did say there is a chance Wallace could return this season.
Wallace was drafted by the Patriots in the third round of this past NFL Draft out of Penn State. In the first two games of the season Wallace was used as a jumbo tight end. In Week 3 injuries thrust him into the role of starting left tackle, despite having been a career right tackle in college and working mostly on the right side this summer. Wallace suffered an injury in that game but returned as the jumbo tight end last week, when he got hurt again.
Without Wallace, the only fully healthy true tackle on the Patriots’ roster right now is Demontrey Jacobs. Jacobs, who started at left tackle last week, saw time at both sides during the brief window of Friday’s practice open to the media.
Mike Onwenu is still healthy and has played right tackle most of the season, but is primarily a guard. He saw snaps at both tackle and guard during that window of Friday’s practice.
The Patriots could be getting another tackle back in Vederian Lowe, who stated at left tackle in Week 2 but has been out since. Lowe has been limited this week in practice, and Mayo said on Friday that his performance in the final practice of the week would likely dictate whether or not he’s ready to go for this Sunday.
There are also two tackles on the Patriots’ practice squad – Caleb Jones and Jalen McKenzie. Neither has been elevated yet for a game this year.
Wallace isn’t the only offensive lineman the Patriots are putting on IR this week. Mayo said David Andrews placement will come Friday as well. It was previously reported Andrews will miss the rest of the year due to a shoulder injury. Once those moves happen, the Patriots will have three open spots on the 53-man roster.
