Patriots’ Jerod Mayo Expects Two Big Injury Returns Before End Of Season

The Patriots got a huge return to practice this week and more reinforcements could be arriving.

Christian Barmore returned to practice Thursday for the first time since blood clots were found before the start of the season. There was a talent deficiency in New England, but injuries also have played a big part in Jerod Mayo’s first season as head coach.

That could change before the end of the season as the 38-year-old admitted Friday there was an expectation for Cole Strange and Caedan Wallace to return.

“That’s the plan,” Mayo told reporters, per a team-provided video.

Strange started the season on the physically unable to perform list due to recovery from a torn patella tendon. The 2022 first-round pick offered optimism about his return last week as he slowly progresses in practice.

Wallace was placed on short-term injured reserve due to an ankle injury. The 2024 third-round pick was in and out of the lineup, but the Patriots didn’t fare much better trying to replace Wallace at either tackle position.

The returns of Strange and Wallace should help stabilize the offensive line and benefit Drake Maye in the closing stretch of his rookie season.