The New England Patriots are likely to see their seventh different offensive line setup in as many games when they face the Jacksonville Jaguars. The offensive line has been in constant flux due to injuries and underperformance, and the latest blow came when right tackle Vederian Lowe suffered an ankle injury during their Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans. Lowe’s absence from practices this week has heightened concerns, and as a result, the team is considering reshuffling the line once again, including moving Michael Onwenu from his current position at right guard back to right tackle.
Head coach Jerod Mayo acknowledged that moving Onwenu to tackle is under consideration, and Onwenu himself has confirmed that he has been practicing at both positions this week. However, when asked if he expects to start at right tackle, Onwenu remained non-committal, saying, “We’ll see how it goes.”
Onwenu, a versatile and reliable offensive lineman since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, has played both guard and tackle positions over the past few seasons. His adaptability has been a significant asset for New England, particularly during this injury-plagued year. Onwenu signed a three-year, $57 million contract extension earlier this season, with the expectation that he would continue at tackle. However, due to the continuous injuries and instability across the line, he has already been shifted between guard and tackle multiple times in the first six games of the season.
In the first four weeks of the season, Onwenu primarily played at right tackle. He was later moved back to right guard ahead of the Patriots’ Week 5 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Now, with Lowe’s status uncertain, the Patriots are considering another shift in the line. One possible scenario is moving rookie Demontrey Jacobs to left tackle, shifting Onwenu to right tackle, and plugging in Layden Robinson at right guard.
The Patriots have struggled to maintain a consistent and effective offensive line, and these ongoing changes further emphasize the challenges the team faces in protecting their quarterback and establishing a solid run game. Whether this latest configuration will hold up against the Jaguars remains to be seen, but all eyes will be on the starting lineup come Sunday morning.
