Promising Patriots rookie needs big game in Week 3 to help save offense

The Patriots are unexpectedly dealing with a lot of change since their Week 2 matchup with the Seahawks this past Sunday, which is not great timing with their only primetime game coming up on Thursday night.

From Ja'Whaun Bentley suffering a season-ending injury to Chukwuma Okorafor being placed on the exempt/left list, the roster has taken a lot of hits in recent days, and the team cannot afford to lose any players, especially in those key areas.

The Patriots' loss of an offensive lineman is one of the worst scenarios they could face, and losing the player they named the starting left tackle just days before their first AFC East matchup with the Jets is not great. To cap it all off, his replacement, Vederian Lowe, is dealing with a new injury and has yet to practice this week, forcing Jerod Mayo to throw another rookie onto the offensive line.

That player is fourth-round pick Caedan Wallace. A right tackle throughout his time at Penn State, the Patriots drafted him intending to move him to the left side, which isn't an easy transition for most players.

However, Wallace has received rave reviews from some highly respected players and scouts, so the expectations are a bit higher than they traditionally would be.

Caedan Wallace has a prime opportunity to earn a starting opportunity against the Jets

Knowing that he will likely replace Lowe for Thursday's game, Wallace will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders to hold down the left side and help keep Jacoby Brissett upright for a more successful offense.

The offensive line was a mess against the Seahawks, making Brissett's job much harder. This inevitably led to an awful showing for the receiving corps, with K.J. Osborn and Ja'Lynn Polk being the only ones to get the football. At the end of the game, they combined for three receptions for 19 yards, an abysmal showing that will not work the rest of the season.

Although there is plenty of blame to go around, including Brissett and the questionable play calling, the offensive line was a significant factor in how the offense performed. Wallace could be a difference-maker with a solid performance, which could ultimately earn him the starting left tackle role for the rest of the year.

It's the perfect time for him to live up to the hype that his teammates and respected people in the NFL, like Louis Riddick, have spoken about him.

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