Patriots Offensive Line Remains in Flux Four Days Before Opener

The New England Patriots failed to find a set lineup for their starting offensive line in training camp. They appeared to settle on a starting group but one injury altered three spots along the line. With their Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals rapidly approaching, the five spots along the offensive front remain unclear. Team captain David Andrews will be New England’s starting center. Mike Onwenu and Chukwuma Okorafor will occupy two of the other spots. But for the most part, the group continues to feel unsettled in an area Mayo has stressed the importance of.

“I think we have to go out there and really be able to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” Mayo said about the team’s keys to victory in Cincinnati. “It’s about the line of scrimmage.”

The head coach went on to be complimentary of the toughness of his offensive line.

“After seeing these guys each and every day during camp, and the progress they’ve made in the running game, and their mentality, it’s been great,” Mayo said at a press conference on Wednesday.”And that unit is led by Dave Andrews, who’s one of the toughest guys I’ve been around.”

New England Patriots center David Andrews blocks against the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Also Read – Dan Kelley: Explaining How the Patriots Offensive Line Got to This Point

But which five offensive linemen will be on the field on Sunday?

Offensive Line Options

It seems 60% of the starting offensive line is set, in the forms of Andrews, Onwenu, and Okorafor. Andrews will start at center. Onwenu played right guard most of camp before sliding over to right tackle. Okorafor spent most of training camp at right tackle, then switched to the left side after an injury to Vederian Lowe.

New England’s injury status report for Week 1 has not been announced. Based on practice participation, Lowe will likely be listed as Doubtful or Out.  Left guard Sidy Sow could be considered Questionable or Doubtful. Sow injured his ankle in the preseason finale and was not participating in the portion of practice open to the media on Wednesday.

OL report: Starting LT Vederian Lowe (oblique) and starting LG Sidy Sow (ankle) didn’t take part in the media-access portion of practice, although Lowe was present at the start and lightly jogging. pic.twitter.com/EI4MO88Vpy

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 2, 2024

Other offensive linemen on the 53-man roster include Nick Leverett, Layden Robinson, Caedan Wallace, Zach Thomas, and Demontrey Jacobs. Offensive tackle Caleb Jones signed with the New England Patriots practice squad on Tuesday. In theory, Jones could be elevated for the game, though it seems improbable with ten offensive linemen already on the roster.

Mayo Hints at Starting Lineup

Jerod Mayo said the Patriots offensive line Sunday will be “some form” of what they had in the preseason finale. That group featured Okorafor (LT), Sow (LG), Andrews (C), Robinson (RG), and Onwenu (RT). This indicates some form of this unit is going to take the field together on Sunday. With Sow missing in practice, Nick Leverett took his spot at left guard in practice. All 90 of Leverett’s preseason snaps came as a center. However, the bulk of Leverett’s NFL experience came as a left guard in 2022 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Unlike when Vederian Lowe got injured, it is unlikely that multiple changes take place before the Bengals game. Jerod Mayo and offensive line coach Scott Peters need some continuity along the front five.

New England Patriots fans should expect to see Chukwuma Okorafor (LT), David Andrews (C), Layden Robinson (RG), and Mike Onwenu (RT) on the field together in Cincinnati. Either Sidy Sow, if healthy, or Nick Leverett will play left guard. Will this unit be able to “control the line of scrimmage” against the Bengals? Stay tuned.