The New England Patriots were already going to have a new starting left tackle for the upcoming NFL season, but it sounds like they might need a new starting left guard to begin the season too as starting left guard Cole Strange has still not recovered from a knee injury.
According to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Cole Strange is expected to miss at least the start of the NFL regular season as he continues to recover from a knee injury he suffered last season.
“#Patriots starting guard Cole Strange, who is still dealing with a significant knee injury suffered late last season, is expected to miss the start of the 2024 season and may be out until the middle of the season, sources say. Strange has started every game he’s played in NE,” Rapoport said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
#Patriots starting guard Cole Strange, who is still dealing with a significant knee injury suffered late last season, is expected to miss the start of the 2024 season and may be out until the middle of the season, sources say.
Strange has started every game he's played in NE.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 21, 2024
Obviously, this is pretty brutal news for the Patriots to be without one of their best and most consistent offensive linemen on a line that really struggled last season, especially as they break in a new rookie starting quarterback.
Understandably, this news led to a lot of reactions on social media.
Somehow the worst starting OL in the NFL just got worse https://t.co/9ZsO6KkvY0
— Clevta (@Clevta) May 21, 2024
Prayers to you @cole_strange69 https://t.co/3blwIwPXHK
— Tyler Barrett (@tylerbarrett27) May 21, 2024
Brutal for Strange, who was playing the best ball of his career before his injury.
Sidy Sow is a candidate to replace Strange at LG after looking solid at RG as a rookie. Could see rookie Layden Robinson get a look there, too. https://t.co/N0wSGISEOu
— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) May 21, 2024
The #Patriots made contingency plans at guard with Layden Robinson (fourth round) and free-agent addition Nick Leverett with Strange’s status uncertain.
On Monday, Sidy Sow and Leverett were the top guards in team drills. https://t.co/irU3fRtdSF
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) May 21, 2024
Not a shock based on Jerod Mayo calling Strange’s injury “month to month” yesterday. Tough break for a player who spent most of last year banged up.
Second-year guard Sidy Sow played left guard with Jacoby Brissett’s group yesterday. Nick Leverett was at right guard. https://t.co/xCoxedg9Yz
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) May 21, 2024
Well that’s not ideal. https://t.co/oqJIZ029tP
— Casey Baker (@_CaseyBaker) May 21, 2024
We’ll have to see what the Patriots do at the position.
