Patriots starting left guard Cole Strange is expected to miss the start of the 2024 season, a source confirmed to the Herald.

Strange, who suffered the knee injury during the Patriots’ Week 15 loss to the Chiefs last season, could be sidelined until midseason. NFL Media was first to report Strange’s timeline.

This news comes one day after Strange was present but not participating in the Patriots’ first organized team activities practice of the spring Monday. Strange observed the session while wearing sweats.

“He’s more of a, let’s say, week-by-week or you can go month-by-month if you want to,” head coach Jerod Mayo said of Strange’s status before Monday’s practice. “But he is working hard, you know, he is doing his rehab. He is here every day. He is in the meeting room, so I am happy where he is.”

Strange, the Patriots’ 2022 first-round pick, missed the beginning of the 2023 season after suffering a knee injury on the first day of padded practices last summer in training camp. He also missed three games in the middle of the season with a knee injury.

Sidy Sow, a 2023 fourth-round pick, filled in for Strange at left guard Monday at OTAs with Chukwuma Okorafor at left tackle, David Andrews at center, Nick Leverett at right guard and Mike Onwenu at right tackle. Sow is expected to start at one of the guard spots in 2024. Atonio Mafi and 2024 fourth-round pick Layden Robinson are also candidates to start at guard.

Strange struggled as a rookie but played well in 2023 around his injuries. He ranked seventh among qualified guards in overall PFF grade from Week 10 on last season. Now, last season’s injury will affect his availability in Year 3. The Patriots must decide whether they want to pick up his fifth-year option after the 2024 season.