FOXBORO — Do the Patriots have the answer to their all-important offensive line question? It’s too early to say with certainty, but the early returns were positive.
With Vederian Lowe, New England’s top-choice left tackle for the last several weeks, sidelined with an injury, the Patriots trotted out a new-look O-line in Thursday’s practice. Chukwuma Okorafor shifted to left tackle, Mike Onwenu bumped out to right tackle and rookie Layden Robinson was elevated from the second unit to fill the right guard spot, with David Andrews and Sidy Sow remaining in their respective positions at center and left guard, respectively.
Robinson, a three-year starter at Texas A&M, has fared well in practice and preseason games in recent weeks, and head coach Jerod Mayo liked what he saw from the fourth-round draft pick with the top unit.
“I would say it was encouraging,” Mayo said before Friday’s practice. “It was encouraging to see that. Anytime you can sandwich a rookie between two veteran players, that’s always going to be a benefit for the player and also the team. We’re still trying to figure out that combination, but I feel like we’re getting pretty close.”
The Patriots kept that combo intact Friday, with backup center Nick Leverett occasionally subbing in for locked-in starter Andrews. It’s possible another shakeup could occur once Lowe returns from the undisclosed injury he suffered during Wednesday’s practice, but this latest look was the most promising the Patriots have shown since training camp began last month.
Much of that is due to the emergence of Robinson, who’s impressed teammates with his power. The 23-year-old was New England’s second-highest-graded lineman by Pro Football Focus over the first two weeks of the preseason, trailing only Andrews.
“(He’s) very, very strong and smart,” said Sow, the clear top option at left guard with Cole Strange still recovering from his season-ending knee injury. “Obviously, he’s young. He just got into the league. He’s like me last year. Getting here, we don’t know a lot. But physically, that guy is so damn strong. He does certain things sometimes and I’m just like, ‘What the hell?’ I wish I could do some of those things.”
The Patriots will close out their preseason schedule this Sunday night against the Washington Commanders, with cutdown day following two days later.