Due to COVID and injury issues, the Patriots had to play Sunday’s game Houston with four backups in the starting lineup on the offensive line.
While the David Andrews-anchored unit performed well in the win, it’s a makeshift lineup that may not be required in full this weekend against the Cowboys at Gillette Stadium.
According to ESPN, New England will get second-year guard Mike Onwenu back at practice on Thursday. Onwenu had missed practice over the last week-plus and the Texans game while on the COVID reserve list.
Asked about the status of his line on Wednesday, Bill Belichick had little information to offer.
“Let’s take it day by day. See how it goes here,” Belichick said.
A day later, Onwenu reportedly will return to the practice field in Foxborough, which could pave the way for him to return to game action on Sunday.
That doesn’t mean New England is out of the woods in terms of issues on the line. Right tackle Trent Brown was placed on IR last week. Left tackle Isaiah Wynn remains on the COVID list. And Shaq Mason missed practice on Wednesday due to an abdominal injury.
Still, getting Onwenu – who can play guard or tackle – back on the field has to be seen as a good sign for a line that has battled injury and poor play most of the season.
