Top Patriots Offensive Lineman Addresses Position Switch At Practice

First-year head coach Jerod Mayo made it well-known after Thursday's preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles he isn't thrilled with the state of the New England Patriots offensive line.

That led to Mayo experimenting with the unit at Saturday's training camp practice, which was the first time the Patriots were on the field since losing to the Eagles, 14-13, at Gillette Stadium.

According to the Boston Herald's Doug Kyed, the same starting line of left tackle Vederian Lowe, left guard Sidy Sow, center David Andrews, right guard Mike Onwenu and right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor was together to start practice, but it didn't stay that way.

The most notable switch was Onwenu moving from right guard to right tackle at one point during practice. The outside tackle spot isn't foreign to Onwenu -- he made 11 consecutive starts at the position to end last season -- but it was the first time he played the position during training camp.

Onwenu doesn't see it as a permanent switch and attributed him getting time at right tackle in practice to Calvin Anderson and Nick Leverett not participating in the session.

"We've just got a few guys out," Onwenu told reporters, per team-provided video. "So, I mean, we're all kind of getting reps and just practicing for the worst."

The Patriots also rotated rookies Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson in with the starting line at right tackle and left guard, respectively, per Kyed.

It seemed like Onwenu was going to slot in as New England's right tackle and solidify that side of the line when the Patriots handed him a three-year, $51 million contract in free agency.

Moving Onwenu to tackle and incorporating the rookies could give the Patriots their best starting offensive line in a unit that is filled with question marks. That looks at least like an option for Mayo if he wants to go that way and Onwenu wouldn't be opposed to it. He said he just needs some heads up in the week leading up to the game to prepare for any position change.

"Just getting those reps today. I felt alright. I only got maybe six or eight reps," Onwenu said. "The more I get or the more practice I take and just get comfortable with it."