David Andrews' injury update doesn't provide comfort for Patriots future

The Patriots have suffered many roster blows so far during the 2024 season, but the loss of David Andrews could possibly be the worst one yet. As the anchor of the offensive line in more ways than just being the center, not having him on the field for the remainder of the year was an immediate concern, mainly since the offensive line has not performed up to par.

Fortunately, the group showed some improvement against the Dolphins last week despite the loss, and the plan is to finally have a consistent grouping for the second week in a row against the Texans this Sunday.

That will be the first time this year the team has been able to do that, which will be significant with rookie quarterback Drake Maye under center in his NFL debut.

It's also impactful that Nick Leverett, the player expected to fill in for Andrews for the season, was able to learn from the veteran throughout the preseason. Although his performance was far from ideal then and even last week, Andrews's guidance should lay the groundwork for his improvement moving forward.

While that would be great for the immediate future, the hope is that Andrews will be able to return to the field in 2025. As one of the last tenured Patriots who has experienced the highest of highs and now the lowest of lows, his presence is crucial at the start of this new era.

But hearing about the extent of his injury doesn't give him much optimism.

David Andrews' injury update makes Patriots fans concerned about playing future

During a recent episode of his podcast "The Quick Snap" with Brian Hoyer, Andrews revealed his shoulder injury was far worse than anyone realized. He shared that he tore his rotator cuff, an injury he sustained during the 2021 season, and he will undergo somewhat of an experimental surgery to repair the damage.

He described the injury from a few seasons ago as "ripping the cuff off the bone," but this time, he "damaged the meat of it," which will lead to surgery hoping to repair the muscles naturally.

It's a surgery that he claims doctors told him will give him the best chance of continuing his player career, but hearing that it's not 100% certain has many fans concerned.

Obviously, Andrews has spoken to multiple doctors and is in the best care possible to get him back on the field as soon as next season, so relying on that rather than our concerns is far more valid.

However, hearing there's a chance we might not see him back in a Patriots uniform is the last thing anyone wanted to hear as a result of his injury. We will likely get a better feeling about how the healing process will go once he undergoes surgery, which should be happening at some point soon.

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