FOXBORO — Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said over the summer that he’d like to have the starting offensive line settled by the third week of the preseason.

The Patriots are preparing for their 10th game of the regular season, and the combination is still fully in flux, even on a day-to-day basis.

“If I’m getting very honest, like it’s been frustrating throughout the year, as far as the different combinations we’ve had to work with,” Mayo said. “I’m very appreciative of Big Mike (Onwenu) and just his willingness before anything else, his willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team win.”

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Patriots considering entirely changing Mike Onwenu’s position this week

Onwenu had made seven different position changes, moving from right tackle to right guard, dating back to organized team activities in the spring. Based on the offensive line combinations in practice early this week and comments from offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, it appeared Onwenu would be making an eighth switch for Sunday’s game against the Bears with a move to left guard, a position he hasn’t played since 2021.

In Friday’s practice, he was back at right guard.

“We just put Mike in there (at left guard) this week for just some reps,” offensive line coach Scott Peters said Friday morning. “We’re trying to get guys to make sure — because he’s our best player. He’s a good football player. For him, we’re asking a lot of him to do that. But really we just prepare with contingencies each week because we’ve had a lot of different lineups, so you always have to look ahead and see where guys need to go if you had someone go down.”

Mayo expounded on his frustrations.

“The frustrating part for me has just been the guys in and out of the lineup,” Mayo said. “Whether it’s through injury or whether it’s through performance, it’s just been a bunch of different things. That’s part of football, and that’s part of me learning as a head coach. Those things are going to happen. Some years it’s worse than others. This year, it’s just been hard to get the same group out there every week.”

Mayo’s comments were shared with Peters, and he was asked if has also been frustrated by the lineup changes.

“Well, I don’t spend time getting frustrated. We spend time looking for solutions,” Peters said. “I think the issue is, I think that it would be optimal to say that we’ve had continuity, because you do get better week by week, and guys get used to playing in the same position or together, and there’s all that. That’s a goal, for sure.

“The benefit of having a lot of moving parts is guys get experience and exposure. And on some level, you’re building some versatility, which is important to have, as you guys know, because of the nature of the NFL with all the injuries that go on. So on some level, you’re building something there. But on another level, you’d like to really say, ‘hey, let’s dig in and and try to see some some continuity over the weeks,’ because you that’s where you see your gains.”

The Patriots have had eight different offensive line combination in nine games as they’ve started the season 2-7. Many of those lineup changes, dating back to training camp, were forced due to injuries. But some have been self-inflicted.

After the Patriots beat the Jets in Week 8, Mayo was asked about the offensive line and said, “What was perceived, I would say, earlier on as a weakness on this team has now become a strength.”

But then they benched right tackle Demontrey Jacobs, moved Onwenu back to right tackle and brought Layden Robinson off the bench to play right guard to start last Sunday’s loss to the Titans. That combination lasted less than a quarter, because Robinson was struggling against Titans Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. So, Robinson was benched, Jacobs came into the game at right tackle and Onwenu moved back over to guard.

“I’ve had multiple conversations with Big Mike, and as always it’s with a smile and ‘whatever I need to do to help the team win,’ and I appreciate that,” Mayo said.

Center Ben Brown and left guard Michael Jordan had been relative standouts for the Patriots earlier this season. But both players struggled mightily against the Titans with Jordan leading the team with five pressures allowed and Brown finishing second with four pressures, including a sack.

Sidy Sow was a steady presence at left guard throughout the summer, but an ankle injury suffered in the Patriots’ final preseason game set him back. He’s started one game this season and is PFF’s lowest graded guard out of 113 players.

Both Mayo and Peters cited Sow’s relative lack of experience, since he grew up in Canada. Sow, 26, played at Eastern Michigan from 2017 to 2022. He also played in high school and at Champlain College Lennoxville.

“It’s kind of a combination of things, but he’s doing a good job coming back,” Peters said. “You know, for Sidy, football, he’s relatively young and new to the game, and so for for him, he’s doing an excellent job. He’s a smart guy, tough guy. He’s got a lot of attributes that you really like. So, we’re just continuing to work with him, and again, in multiple spots.”

Added Mayo: “He’s continuing to grow. I will say, a guy like Sidy who hasn’t played football since he was 5 years old like some of us, he’s still developing and still growing.”