FOXBORO — Caedan Wallace opened the season as the Patriots’ third-string left tackle.
Just three weeks in, he now might need to start.
Chukwuma Okorafor, New England’s Week 1 starter at left tackle, was benched early in the opener and subsequently left the team. Vederian Lowe started on Sunday but suffered a knee injury late in an overtime loss to Seattle and did not return.
The severity of Lowe’s injury was unclear as of Monday, but the Patriots have a quick turnaround this week ahead of their Thursday night matchup with the New York Jets. If he cannot return in time, Wallace — a third-round rookie out of Penn State — would be the next man up on Jacoby Brissett’s blind side.
Is he ready for that responsibility?
“We’ll have to see,” head coach Jerod Mayo said Monday. “He’s had some good snaps for us, and that’s what it’s all about. It’s next-man-up mentality. I know it sounds very cliche or very corny, but that’s the world we live in. This is the roster that we have, and we’re going to make do with it.”
The Patriots frequently deployed Wallace as a run-blocking jumbo tight end in Weeks 1 and 2, giving him 26 snaps in that role against the Bengals and Seahawks. He replaced Lowe for New England’s overtime possession on Sunday and was flagged for illegal formation on a third-and-1.
Wallace said he feels “super prepared” to handle a larger role this week if Lowe can’t go.
“I’m prepared for anything,” Wallace said. “I’ve been saying throughout camp, really since I got here, whatever the coaches need me to do, whatever is best for the team, I’m here for it.”
If that is the case, Thursday be a daunting first test for the 24-year-old. The Jets boasted one of the NFL’s most fearsome defenses last season and are tied for third in the league in sacks (seven) through two weeks.
It’s also Wallace’s first time experiencing the truncated three-day break before a Thursday night game.
“It’s brand new for me,” he said. “I’ve never experienced anything like it. So I guess I’m excited for it. It’s a new experience, and I’m starting at it today.”
New England’s starting O-line already features one 2024 draft pick: fourth-rounder Layden Robinson, who started both games at right guard. Zach Thomas, Demontrey Jacobs and practice squadder Caleb Jones are their other backup options at tackle.
It’s theoretically possible that Okorafor, who is on the reserve/left squad list but still had a setup in New England’s locker room as of Monday afternoon, could rejoin the team and start against New York. But Mayo’s latest comments suggested that’s unlikely.
“Look, Chuks left the building,” Mayo said Monday. “He’s not with the team. He’s doing some thinking, but at this point in time, he’s not with the team.”
Pass blocking has been a major problem for the Patriots’ offense thus far. Brissett has faced pressure on 44.3% of his dropbacks, per Pro Football Focus, the second-highest rate of any NFL quarterback.
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