Patriots Daily
Patriots Daily: When and Where Will Cole Strange Play?

The New England Patriots offensive line has been an area of concern all season. The team had question marks coming into training camp. Those issues increased after several injuries, disappointing performances, and a departure. According to a report, there could be reinforcements on the way soon in the form of Cole Strange.
MassLive’s Mark Daniels posted that Strange is close to a return. He stated that the Patriots had told Strange to prepare to play center.
When it comes to the Patriots center position, keep an eye on Cole Strange.
The team told him to start preparing to play center earlier this season. He's getting closer to returning.
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 14, 2024
Cole Strange would be a welcomed addition to New England’s active roster, regardless of where he plays. The Patriots lost David Andrews and Jake Andrews to season-ending injuries. Chukwuma Okorafor left the team after Week 1. New England released Nick Leverett yesterday. Atonio Mafi failed to earn a roster spot after playing in all 17 games as a rookie last season. Caedan Wallace is on injured reserve. Vederian Lowe and Michael Jordan are dealing with injuries suffered in Week 6.
Sunday’s game ended with Zach Thomas replacing Vederian Lowe at left tackle. The three-year veteran is a waiver claim pickup who played more than three snaps at left tackle once in an NFL game before last weekend. Sidy Sow replaced Michael Jordan at left guard. Sow missed the first four games, struggled in his lone start, and was replaced by Jordan against Houston. Ben Brown started his first NFL game at center five days after being signed off the Raiders practice squad. Demontrey Jacobs is another waiver claim, who never started an NFL game before Week 5.
Right guard Mike Onwenu is a solid, experienced player. But Onwenu is also adjusting to his role, as he was playing right tackle for the first four weeks of 2024.
Cole Strange
New England selected Strange in the first round (No. 29 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. He started all 17 games as a rookie but did struggle. He allowed 23 pressures and five sacks. Strange was called for six penalties. Pro Football Focus gave Strange a 54.6 grade for his rookie season. His run blocking was particularly poor, earning a 48.3.
.@NCAA_FCS to first-round pick.@ColeStrange2’s #PatsDraft journey from @GoMocs to the Patriots. pic.twitter.com/rWXiGbCyHg
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 26, 2023
Injuries kept Cole Strange out for four of the first six games of the 2023 season. He returned for Week 7 and played eight games for New England before suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 15. The injury, later disclosed as a torn patellar tendon, has kept Strange sidelined ever since. When Strange got injured he was playing the best football of his young NFL career.
The idea of converting Strange to playing center is certainly interesting. He played zero snaps at center in college or his first two seasons in the NFL. The coaching staff seems to believe position versatility is both important and something players should be able to do. They tried converting guards Nick Leverett, Atonio Mafi, and Liam Fornadel to center during training camp, and even to start an NFL game in Leverett’s case. The Patriots hope Strange’s conversion goes smoother than that of those three players, none of whom are on the 53-man roster.
Cole Strange getting healthy and getting his career back on track is the most important takeaway here. And regardless of whether he converts to center or remains at left guard, having another able-bodied player available on the offensive line is good news for New England. Stay tuned.
Also in Tuesday’s Patriots Daily:
Patriots Fact/Trivia of the Day
Although taking a first-round guard is not common, the New England Patriots have done it five times:
1973 – John Hannah, Alabama
1978 – Bob Cryder, Alabama
1992 – Eugene Chung, Virginia Tech
2005 – Longan Mankins, Fresno State
2022 – Cole Strange, Chattanooga
Post of the Day
Bill Belichick ripping the New York Jets franchise and owner Woody Johnson on the ManningCast of Monday Night Football’s game between the Jets and Bills last night. Post courtesy of New England Football Journal:
Bill Belichick making sure we know he’s not interested in the Jets job by 💩all over them. pic.twitter.com/uUwmu68WCD
— New England Football Journal ® 🏈 (@newftbj) October 15, 2024
More From Patriots Football Now
PFF’s Best and Worst Patriots Grades of Week 6 – Pro Football Focus graded all the Patriots players in their Week 6 loss to the Texans. Davon Godchaux, DeMario Douglas, and Marte Mapu excelled. Jonathan Jones, Austin Hooper, Ja’Lynn Polk, and many others struggled.
Mayo Monday: “This Isn’t a One-Year Thing in My Mind” – New England’s head coach Jerod Mayo made his weekly appearance on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” yesterday. He discussed Drake Maye’s debut and the team’s penalty problems among other issues. Mayo stated the offensive line prevented Maye from playing sooner.
Report: Patriots Releasing Offensive Lineman Nick Leverett – Leverett was the New England Patriots starting center in Week 5. After sitting on the bench Sunday, the Patriots released him on Monday. This opens up a roster spot for the Patriots, possibly to be filled by Cole Strange, or more likely one of the practice squad centers (Bryan Hudson, Sincere Haynesworth).