How Patriots’ Mike Onwenu Feels About Varying O-Line Assignments

FOXBORO, Mass. — Mike Onwenu just wants a heads-up before he takes the field on game day.

Onwenu, who played right tackle last season and practiced at the same position throughout much of the spring, transitioned back inside on Day 1 of training camp. The New England Patriots fifth-year offensive lineman, who received a massive contract extension this offseason, played right guard at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday.

“Wherever the team needs me to play is where I’ll be, essentially,” Onwenu said after practice. “As the days go on, I’ll keep practicing at whatever position, and on game day, we’ll see where I am.”

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While some players would prefer to know their assignment so they can improve and gain experience at that position, Onwenu is open to the idea. It’s part of training camp, Onwenu said. And he’s played all over the offensive line during his previous four seasons in New England.

“It was a little surprise, but pretty much as a football player, I started as a guard, started as a jumbo tackle and then I played tackle,” Onwenu said.

Onwenu echoed much of which Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo shared previously. New England is trying to determine its best five-player combination up front. If the group is best with Onwenu at right guard and somebody else at right tackle, or if the best grouping is with someone else at right guard and Onwenu at right tackle, well, he’s open to it.

Onwenu was the right guard, and Calvin Anderson was the right tackle when starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett was behind center Wednesday. Onwenu played a little right guard next to second-string right tackle Caedan Wallace when Drake Maye was on the field, too.

The Patriots consistently tweaked their offensive line combinations during organized team activities and minicamp, as well.

“That’s what this period is for,” said Onwenu, who shared he loved Alex Van Pelt’s new offense and Scott Peters as an offensive line coach.

“I’ve got it done in the past, I’ve played multiple positions. The more you know, the more it helps.”

Arguably nobody is helping more than Onwenu.