By the end of Sunday’s 30-13 loss to the 49ers, the Patriots’ backup offensive line consisted of just one man: Zach Thomas, a guard/tackle who was claimed off waivers from the Rams just over a month ago.
Center David Andrews left the game after the Patriots’ first offensive drive with a shoulder injury and was replaced with veteran Nick Leverett. Then rookie Caedan Wallace, who was serving as a jumbo tight end/backup offensive tackle, was helped off the field by teammates before being carted to the locker room with an ankle injury.
Head coach Jerod Mayo didn’t have an update on Andrews or Wallace as of Monday morning.
All that left was Thomas, Leverett and starting left tackle Demontrey Jacobs, left guard Sidy Sow, right guard Layden Robinson and right tackle Mike Onwenu.
The unit, which was without left tackle Vederian Lowe (knee) and left guard Michael Jordan (ankle) let up a league-high 21 pressures and 53.8% pressure rate in Sunday’s loss.
Andrews, Wallace, Lowe and Jordan can’t play by the Patriots’ Week 5 matchup with the Dolphins, then Mayo would be forced to elevate or sign two offensive linemen off of the practice squad. Tackles Caleb Jones and Jalen McKenzie and guards/centers Liam Fornadel and Bryan Hudson are the current options.
But there are also experienced offensive tackles still available in free agent. To this point, the Patriots have not been interested in signing Donovan Smith, Charles Leno Jr., D.J. Humphries, Duane Brown or David Bakhtiari. But perhaps the latest rash of injuries could change the minds of Mayo and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf.
“Eliot and I have those conversations all the time. Actually we’re going to meet today,” Mayo said. “We are always trying to find ways to improve our roster, and so that’s always under consideration.”
All five veteran players have experience playing left tackle. Jacobs was the Patriots fourth starting left tackle in four weeks. He allowed seven pressures in Sunday’s loss, including one sack and two QB hits.
