The Patriots have placed starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn on injured reserve with turf toe according to the NFL's transaction wire and isn't expected to return until Week 10 at the earliest.
Caleb Benenoch, Tampa Bay’s fifth-round pick in 2016, started all 16 games at right guard last season but was a backup at tackle this season. He has played at right tackle at times in his career.
The Patriots lost center David Andrews before the season even started to blood clots, and has been replaced by Ted Karras.
Starting right tackle Marcus Cannon didn't finish the season opener, and missed last week's game with a left shoulder injury.
Here's what Dr. Jessica Flynn had to say on both recent injuries:
Cannon came down hard on his left shoulder in Week 1 and was forced to leave the Patriots’ matchup with the Steelers. The exact nature of the injury is unknown, but the good news is that he traveled with the team to Miami last weekend and was testing the shoulder out pregame with the training staff. All reports point to a possible Week 3 return.
Wynn, who missed last season with an Achilles tear, suffered a toe injury in week 2. He reportedly has turf toe, which is an injury to soft tissues under the first toe. These structures, together named the “plantar plate,” are very important for push-off. Turf toe is a difficult injury to heal and often lingers if it is not fully rested. The Patriots have announced that they are placing Wynn on IR with an ability to return in week 10 at the earliest.
- I think Cannon will be a go this week. He's tough, and it was a good sign that he at least tried it before the Dolphins game. If he can't go, Marshall Newhouse has been a swing tackle at both spots in this league. He has played some left guard.
- Now that this is a long-term injury, Joe Thuney could be the best option at left tackle. He got some work there early in training camp, and he's probably the best pound-for-pound tackle they have on the roster at this moment.
- That being said, at least against the Jets, the Patriots might opt to keep their interior trio together since the Jets' strength up front is probably their tackles, Harry Anderson and Leonard Williams. The Jets don't have much on the edge.
- As far as Thuney's vacant left guard spot, I'm tempted to move Ted Karras there from center but I think that might be too much change, especially for the quarterback. In practice, James Ferentz has been a better guard than a center. I worry about Ferentz and his slow feet at guard.
- Jermaine Elumunor is the backup with the most experience at the position, but the Ravens traded him because he couldn't win their starting left guard spot, which was basically gifted to him.
15/17ths of $10.85M or $9,573,529. Each week it decreases by $638,235.29 https://t.co/mvf8cDgEZM
— Cap Space=$3,928,036 (@patscap) September 16, 2019