Patriots offensive line facing crisis heading into Sunday’s kickoff at Houston

The Patriots’ offensive line, a trouble spot all season, is now facing a full-blown crisis.

Starting right tackle Trent Brown and right guard Shaq Mason were officially ruled out Friday with the injuries that kept them out of practice all week. Brown is still dealing with the hurt calf he suffered in Week 1, while Mason is battling an abdomen injury. Without Brown, the Pats have averaged 3.5 yards per carry and rank 19th in adjusted sack rate.

Heading into Sunday’s kickoff at Houston, the Patriots could also be down starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn and left guard Mike Onwenu, who missed every practice on COVID-19 reserve. It’s unknown whether Wynn and/or Onwenu tested positive for the virus or were deemed high-risk close contacts of someone who did.

An unvaccinated player who is deemed a high-risk close contact must quarantine for five days and test negative before returning to the team. If either player is a high-risk close contact, he could theoretically play on Sunday. A vaccinated player only makes COVID-19 reserve if he tests positive.

After a vaccinated player tests positive, he can return to the team once he is asymptomatic and produces two negative PCR tests separated by at least 24 hours. An unvaccinated player who tests positive must isolate for a minimum of 10 days.

If the Patriots are down all four starters, backup tackles Justin Herron, Yasir Durant and Yodny Cajuste are candidates to start. Interior backup Ted Karras will man one of the guard positions and should be paired with a player from the practice squad: either James Ferentz, veteran Alex Redmond or sixth-round rookie Will Sherman

Pats coach Bill Belichick addressed his level of concern with the offensive line shortly before Friday’s practice.

“I think today will help clear some of that up, but whoever has the opportunity, I’m sure they’ll make the most of it,” Belichick said. “I know the guys that have been at practice are working as hard as they can to be ready to go, and the guys that did are, likewise, preparing, and if they get the opportunity, I think they’ll be ready to go too. So we’ll see how it all plays out.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3iG5uPC