FOXBORO — The Patriots are two weeks into training camp, and their offensive tackle situation remains unsettled.There appear to still be four options in consideration to start at tackle in Week 1, Chukwuma Okorafor, Vederian Lowe, Calvin Anderson and rookie Caedan Wallace.One team evaluator believes Okorafor and Lowe have been the two most consistent options at tackle. Okorafor, who has now missed three straight practices with an apparent injury, is a likely starter at either left or right tackle if healthy.On Tuesday, Lowe was at left tackle, Sidy Sow began at left guard, David Andrews played center, Mike Onwenu kept his post at right guard and Anderson started at right tackle.Lowe has been starting at left tackle for five straight practices, while Anderson has been the right tackle for the past two sessions. Anderson also began camp at right tackle. Wallace practiced four days as the Patriots’ top left tackle and one day at right tackle last week while Anderson was out with a minor injury. Okorafor began training camp at left tackle before moving to right tackle.Lowe also spent time at right tackle earlier in training camp when Okorafor was at left tackle.Lowe started eight games for the Patriots last season after coming over in a trade from the Vikings. Anderson missed most of training camp last summer after contracting malaria on a trip to Nigeria. He started two games but finished the season on injured reserve. Okorafor, a right tackle by trade, signed with the Patriots after getting released by the Steelers. Wallace was a third-round pick out of Penn State, where he also played right tackle.Anderson believes all of the tackles are getting a fair shake.“I feel good. This is what camp’s about, competition. So, now we get to throw some pads on, it gets real when you play in the preseason games leading up to the season. Making us all better.”Mayo has said he’d like the top offensive line to be settled by the third preseason game. Onwenu, who has only practiced at guard this summer, said Tuesday that he would still feel comfortable moving outside to tackle if necessary.The offensive line could be reshuffled at midseason when Cole Strange is ready to return off of the physically unable to perform list. That could potentially move Sow to right guard and Onwenu back to tackle. So, the Week 1 starting combination might still not be permanent.
Originally Published: August 7, 2024 at 4:13 p.m.
