Oct 3, 2021; Foxboro, MA, USA; New England Patriots offensive guard Mike Onwenu (71) and quarterback Mac Jones (10) and tight end Hunter Henry (85) celebrate a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots lose two starting offensive linemen to the COVID-19 list.
After losing a close game on Sunday Night Football, the New England Patriots fell to to 1-3 on the season. Today, the team received even more bad news with the announcement that two offensive lineman, Michael Onwenu and Isaiah Wynn, were placed on the COVID-19 list.
It is not clear how much time each player will miss as it all depends on vaccination status and how each player is affected.
Per the NFL’s COVID protocols, if a player is vaccinated and asymptomatic, they are eligible to return when they can produce two negative test 24 hours apart from each other. If a player is unvaccinated, they must be away from the team a minimum of 10 days regardless of symptoms.
Patriots lose two starting offensive linemen
Onwenu (guard) and Wynn (tackle) make up the entire left side of the offensive line. With right tackle Trent Brown having missed the last three games with a calf injury, this does not bode well for the Patriots. Being down three starting offensive lineman with a rookie quarterback is a recipe for disaster. Especially when a franchise that is used to winning is trying to dig itself out a 1-3 hole in order to avoid a second consecutive losing season.
Third-year tackle Yodny Cajuste and six-year veteran guard Ted Karras will have to fill in for New England if Onwenu and Wynn are not back with the team in time for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.