The New England Patriots faced a major setback this week when center David Andrews suffered a shoulder injury, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. Coach Jerod Mayo confirmed that Andrews would need surgery and would be placed on injured reserve.
Andrews’ injury occurred early in the Week 4 game against the San Francisco 49ers, forcing Nick Leverett to step in as his replacement. Andrews was a key player on the Patriots’ offensive line, providing a consistent presence in an otherwise struggling unit. With the offensive line ranking poorly in both run-blocking and pass-blocking grades, Andrews’ absence will be keenly felt.
The Patriots were already cautious about putting rookie Drake Maye in a challenging position behind the weakened offensive line. Mayo mentioned that Jacoby Brissett would continue as the starting quarterback, but the need to give Maye playing time remains crucial for his development.
Considering the team’s current struggles on the offensive line and lack of elite skill position players, Maye may face significant pressure if he is called upon to take the reins. In his limited playing time against the New York Jets, Maye was under pressure on nearly half of his dropbacks, indicating the challenges he may encounter if he becomes the full-time starter.
Despite the obstacles ahead, the Patriots will need to find a way to navigate through the remainder of the season without Andrews anchoring the offensive line. The team will have to make adjustments and possibly rely on younger or less experienced players to fill the void left by Andrews’ absence. The upcoming games will test the team’s depth and resilience as they strive to overcome this significant setback.
