Injured Patriots starter returning to practice this week is perfect timing

The Patriots have dealt with far more than their fair share of injuries this season, especially to some of their most important players on the roster. It has made for a difficult season for the team to overcome their absences on both sides of the ball, with the offense becoming the more concerning part due to the insertion of Drake Maye under center.

That made the season-ending injury to starting center David Andrews even more devastating, as the offensive line was one of the team's biggest weaknesses. It didn't help that they were already down starting left guard Cole Strange and lost their left tackle after Week 1.

The left side of the group has been shuffled around to accommodate those losses, and while their performance has gotten better as the season has progressed, it still hasn't been up to par or ideal for a rookie quarterback to navigate.

Fortunately, Jerod Mayo provided some great news on Wednesday morning regarding the offensive line, revealing Strange would be returning to practice this afternoon for the first time this season. It's quite a shift from what the head coach said last week concerning Strange's return, but it's a welcomed change given the immediate impact he could have on the offense's production.

Cole Strange's return to the Patriots offensive line couldn't be happening at a better time

With the first game against Miami on the docket for Week 12, the Patriots have a tough road to end the season with one of the most difficult remaining schedules in the NFL.

Playing in Miami has proven to be a struggle for them for decades, even when Tom Brady was running the show, so it's expected not to be easy for Maye in his first game there. That makes Strange's return even better, especially if he is able to suit up for Sunday's matchup.

It's been a long time coming for the 2022 first-round pick, as he has been criticized since he was drafted and has had a roller coaster of a career thus far.

Suffering a serious injury late in the 2023 season didn't help, and the severity of that injury wasn't entirely known until earlier this year. But it appears he's finally able to get back to playing football again and could be ready to take the field as soon as this upcoming weekend, which is a huge plus for the offense moving forward.

Hopefully, this means the coaching staff won't have to continue making changes to the lineup every week and build some more continuity on the offensive line for Maye to work with.

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