The New England Patriots travel to East Rutherford, New Jersey, to play against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium for the second Thursday Night Football game on Prime Video. The Patriots are 6.5 point underdogs, and the over/under is 38.5. One interesting matchup to monitor throughout the game is the Patriots’ offensive line vs. the Jets’ defensive line.
The Patriots offensive line has had a disastrous start to the season, primarily in pass protection. The unit has surrendered 26 pressures, 18 hurries, six hits, and two sacks allowed through two games. PFF has them ranked as the worst offensive line unit, and left tackle is their weakest position.
Chukwuma Okorafor began the season as the starting left tackle. However, that didn’t last long when the Patriots benched him after 12 snaps in Week 1. Vederian Lowe replaced him for the final 52 snaps. Okorafor, questioning whether he should continue his NFL career, left the squad, and they placed him on The Left Squad List last Saturday. His replacement suffered an injury in Week 2.
The New England Patriots starting offensive tackle suffered an injury in Week 2
Vederian Lowe started at left tackle in Week 2. Lowe played their first 65 snaps of the game, with four pressures, three hurries, one hit, zero sacks allowed, a 67.6 pass block grade, a 55.7 run block grade, and a 56.8 PFF grade. He suffered a knee injury in the fourth quarter and missed their three overtime snaps.
Vederian Lowe has a knee injury
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) September 15, 2024
The New England Patriots will have to find another starter for Week 3
The Patriots held a walkthrough on Tuesday for their only practice session of the short week. Vederian Lowe did not participate, and he has been ruled out. Mike Reiss of ESPN NFL Nation lists the players who are out and questionable for Thursday’s game.
Patriots injury report
OUT:
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (pectoral)
OT Vederian Lowe (knee)
G Sidy Sow (ankle)
LB Oshane Ximines (knee)QUESTIONABLE:
C David Andrews (hip)
OL Mike Onwenu (wrist)
S Jabrill Peppers (shoulder)
DE Deatrich Wise Jr. (shoulder)NOTES: Andrews seemed…
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 18, 2024
Who will start at left tackle in Week 3?
The New England Patriots expect rookie third-round pick Caedan Wallace to start the first game of his NFL career. Wallace played right tackle with the Penn State Nittany Lions in college but cross-trained on the left side throughout the offseason. He logged 25 out of 91 preseason snaps as the blindside blocker.
Wallace has seen playing time as the sixth offensive lineman with the Patriots. He played 18 snaps there in Week 1 as well as nine snaps in Week 2. He filled in for Lowe in overtime, playing two snaps at left tackle.
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