Patriots getting dangerously shallow at offensive tackle ahead of preseason finale

FOXBORO — The Patriots could just barely field a starting and scout-team offense during Wednesday’s practice.

After Vederian Lowe left practice nursing an upper-body injury, the Patriots had just four healthy offensive tackles left on the field: Chukwuma Okorafor, third-round pick Caedan Wallace, undrafted rookie Zuri Henry and Kellen Diesch, who was signed more than a week into training camp.

Mike Onwenu, who was been working as the Patriots’ starting right guard, can also play right tackle, but he didn’t take any snaps at the position on Wednesday after rotating between guard and tackle earlier in the week.Veteran tackle Calvin Anderson is also nursing an injury and has been a non-participant in practice.

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Lowe had been the Patriots’ starting left tackle in recent weeks. His injury thrust Wallace into that role with Okorafor sticking at right tackle. Diesch worked as the Patriots’ backup left tackle with Henry practicing on the right side.

Okorafor had previously seen an uptick in snaps at left tackle earlier this week.

“It’s obviously different, but we don’t know what was going to happen mid-game or whatever the case is,” Okorafor said Wednesday. “It’s definitely helpful for a bunch of guys to go learn how to play different spots in case someone gets hurt or whatever the case is.”

Okorafor also began the offseason workout program and training camp at left tackle before being shifted to the right side. The Patriots’ initial plan in the spring was to start Onwenu at right tackle, but he hasn’t consistently started at that position since minicamp in June. The Patriots’ offensive staff believes Onwenu is a better player at guard, according to a source.

Time will tell the extent of Lowe’s injury, but if he’s forced to miss time, the Patriots have some decisions to make. Do they keep Okorafor at right tackle and insert a rookie in Wallace at left tackle? Do they flip Okorafor back to left tackle and start Wallace at right tackle? Or do they finally acquiesce and move Onwenu to right tackle and decide between starting Okorafor and Wallace? If they choose the third option, rookie guard Layden Robinson has been making a push for a starting spot on the offensive line.

“He’s strung a few weeks together here, and that’s the thing,” head coach Jerod Mayo said Wednesday. “I told these guys at the beginning of camp: there are more people in this room than there are jobs, and so either you’re going to hold on to your job, or someone’s going to take your job. I would say all those guys have been battling. So, it’s going to be a tough decision.”

Mayo said this week that everyone healthy will play in Sunday’s preseason finale against the Commanders, and that includes all four quarterbacks.

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