Bedard: Losing David Andrews hurts, but it's something the Patriots can and will overcome

Dante Scarnecchia was asked Monday whether everything was OK with David Andrews after the tough-as-nails center had missed two practices this week.

"We'll find out," he said.

Scarnecchia might as well have blown an air horn to the assembled media. Something was definitely going on. This was not some tight back or strained groin.

We have our answer. According to league and team sources, Andrews has been hospitalized to treat a blood clot in his lungs (UPDATE: Andrews has been released). He very well could miss the entire season as the treatments associated with this usually need to run their course for 3-6 months.

This is likely tied to Andrews' absence from the early portion of training camp. It was thought that Andrews couldn't kick an illness (pneumonia), but it's very possible the two were related in hindsight.

"It's good to get back out here," Andrews said on Aug. 1. "I had something I was dealing with. [I'm] a little bit behind. Kind of those first two days are really you kind of start knocking the rust off and those are kind of my days right now. I've got a lot of work to do to catch up."

Andrews was visibly struggling with the weather in Nashville — he was dealing with vomiting at one point — and often having to take a knee while looking exhausted.

It's a blow, certainly. Andrews has been a captain the last two seasons and a starter the previous four seasons. A center is valuable for his mind as much as anything else, as he works in concert with the quarterback as far as protections and checks at the line.

That being said, this is something the Patriots can definitely overcome and it should have little effect on their long-term outlook. Here are four reasons why:

STRENGTH IN THE MIDDLE

It would be one thing if the Patriots' center position was just another area of need to be addressed on the offensive line. Some people are freaking out over left tackle, but there really isn't one other area of immediate need.

Isaiah Wynn, while he didn't play last year, has been in the system for over a year and looks to be ready to be the next franchise left tackle. He's played outstanding in his first two games. Even if he's weak, the Patriots can help out that spot easily. But it's not really a concern.

Beyond Wynn, left guard, right guard and right tackle are populated by Pro Bowl-caliber players. Shaq Mason was a borderline All-Pro player last year, Joe Thuney might be the best all-around lineman, and Marcus Cannon looks healthy, strong and ready to go as his previous high level of play.

In short, you couldn't get a better situation in which to lose a center, even one like Andrews. If you thought Thuney had value helping Trent Brown last season, now you have Thuney and Mason on either side of the next center. You can't draw it up much better.

THE PATRIOTS HAVE EXPERIENCED PLAYERS

It's not like they are only left with rookie undrafted free agents and journeymen behind Andrews, who incidentally, was a rookie undrafted free agent in 2015 when he took over for Stork.

The Patriots have two in-house options when it comes to center, Ted Karras and James Ferentz. Either could do the job necessary. Karras has more experienced and is bigger (6-4, 305). Ferentz is built lower to the ground (6-2, 300), which is usually preferred in a center.

Both were battling for the backup interior spot, and now both are competing for the center position. The loser is likely to be the veteran interior backup for all three spots, with rookie Hjlate Froholdt. He is a candidate to play center at some point, but he has enough on his plate just figuring out how to block. I wouldn't rule it out later this season or, better yet, next year.

Ferentz had a better training camp, but hasn't had a good preseason (1.5 sacks allowed, 2.5 total QB pressures, 7 stuffed runs allowed). "Steady" Teddy Karras had a rough summer, but has shown he's more of a gamer (0 sacks, 3 total QB pressures, 2 stuffed runs allowed). That will likely land him the starting spot. The team has a 4-1 record when he has started in previous years. Yes, he did have a shotgun snap go over Tom Brady's head in an eventual win over the Dolphins. It happens.

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Undrafted free agent Tyler Gauthier isn't going to be an option. He was the worst one-on-one blocker in camp.

The Patriots could entice Brian Schwenke to come out of retirement if a spot is waiting.

PATRIOTS HAVE TRIED TO REPLACE ANDREWS PREVIOUSLY

It's not like Andrews is viewed internally as a franchise center, and the modest contract extension he signed in 2017 (three years, $9 million) reflects that.

The Patriots reportedly tried to trade up and draft now-Lions center Frank Ragnow last year before they took Isaiah Wynn.

And Froholdt's selection could have been for either Thuney, who is in his final year, or Andrews.

THEY'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE

What do Nate Solder, Brian Waters, Dan Koppen and Bryan Stork all have in common? They're all former Patriots starting offensive linemen who over the past decade helped the Patriots win a Super Bowl or come darn close (Waters). And when each departed, it was stunning that the Patriots even bothered to play the season considering the hysteria from outside the walls of One Patriot Place.

But then...

Trent Brown replaced Solder and won a Super Bowl.

Ryan Wendell replaced Koppen and won a Super Bowl.

Stork replaced Wendell and won a Super Bowl.

Andrews replaced Stork and won two Super Bowls.

Dan Connolly replaced Waters and won a Super Bowl.

When all of those players hit the field as replacements, fans panicked and thought the worst. This is what the Patriots do. This is what Dante Scarnecchia does.

It will be fine.