Analysis: If Marcus Cannon gets right (big if), Patriots can absorb Isaiah Wynn injury

The Patriots already saw one of their twin first-round picks, running back Sony Michel, undergo a procedure this summer and put his rookie season in jeopardy.

The other will reportedly have his rookie season cut short.

Offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn ruptured his left Achilles during Thursday night's exhibition game against the Eagles, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. If that's true, he will miss the entire season.

BSJ Analysis

While this is never good news, the Patriots are actually in a much better place to handle this than we thought before the season.

Even before Wynn's injury, he was only in a competition with La'Adrian Waddle for the backup/swing tackle and both were likely headed toward the roster — if Marcus Cannon (foot or something else) can ever get back on the field and be the starting right tackle that he's supposed to be for this team.

Of course, we wouldn't be saying this if Trent Brown didn't all of a sudden drop in the Patriots' lap as a franchise left tackle (health-willing). If the Patriots knew Brown was going to be this good, they likely wouldn't have drafted Wynn, even though he's helpful in case Brown walks in a contract year.

Brown and Cannon are entrenched as the starting tackles. Waddle is now the main backup, and Ulrick John is in the best position to take Wynn's spot as the inactive/depth tackle. His 12-7-1 record in one-on-ones was next-best at tackle behind Brown and Waddle. Jason King (4-4-2) just recently returned from an injury, so he has a shot. Matt Tobin (5-7-2) is the most experienced as a backup swing tackle, but not sure he's worth the roster spot at this point. Cole Croston has only played guard for the Patriots, but he has the size to make the transition to tackle if they needed it.

The biggest fear is that in Brown, Cannon and Waddle, you're not talking about the most durable group. Both Brown and Cannon didn't finish the season healthy last year, and Waddle was in and out of the lineup.

Probably the biggest domino to fall with Wynn's injury is that it's now much less likely that Shaq Mason (contract year) or Joe Thuney are dangled for a possible trade. With a first-round pick around, it was always possible the Patriots would put that investment to immediate work and that would mean trading a veteran. While Wynn only played tackle in camp, there was still plenty of time to get him adjusted to guard if the Patriots needed it.