FOXBOROUGH - Despite doing some work at the start of Wednesday's practice, the Vederian Lowe I talked to in the locker room beforehand didn't seem too confident in his ability to play Sunday.
"It's definitely getting better," said Lowe, pointing to his side (oblique pull). "I'm going to do a few things today, but it's been tough."
Lowe was never anyone's candidate to be the starting left tackle when this summer began. Still, he quickly found himself in that spot and ahead of veteran Chuks Okorafor and rookie Caedan Wallace. GM Eliot Wolf highlighted both players as the top left tackle candidates, but the third-year pro out of the University of Illinois showed up as a different player than the one who was mostly overmatched a season ago. Now, that's not to say he's found a home; in early August, Lowe told us he thought his best chance to make this league was as a swing tackle - but the affable and long-armed 25-year-old has taken to the techniques stressed by new line coach Scott Peters, right up until the injury.
"I've never had anything like this before," Lowe told me. "Not in high school. Not in college. It's disappointing."
The injury happened in practice on August 21st. Lowe thought he had hurt his ribs, but it turned out to be muscular. The fact that he has progressed to doing some on-field work is a positive, but judging from his upbeat but matter-of-fact tone, Lowe knows he will need some more time to get back into game action.
Meanwhile, teammate Sidy Sow remained in street clothes for a second straight practice this week. His ankle/Achilles injury is improving, but not enough to get the first-team left guard back into action. Michael Onwenu stayed at right tackle during the part of the workout we were allowed to view, and Nick Leverett and Layden Robinson were the guards. However, Peters did rotate Zach Thomas and practice squadders Michael Jordan, Bryan Hudson, and Jerome Carvin into the mix.
"We're still going through it," said Jerod Mayo when asked this morning if he knew who would be starting against the Bengals. That should matter, although Onwenu brushed it aside when I asked.
"Yeah, wherever the five guys are, I think we'll be more than ready. We're all being coached the same and taught the same thing. So, we're all preparing to play, which is the most important thing."
The first injury report was released this afternoon. Sow was a DNP, and Lowe was one of four players listed as limited (Jon Jones, Josh Uche, Oshane Ximenes).
BIG BOYS GOTTA DELIVER
Mayo has made it clear this summer, and as we head into week one, that the offensive and defensive lines are critical to the team's success. The defensive front should be up to the task. Davon Godchaux had a strong summer, Keion White looks poised to take the next step, and both Deatrich Wise and Anfernee Jennings are strong, physical players. It's the offensive side we've been hyper-focused on for obvious reasons (see above, for example). To their credit, those OLs are more than willing to take on that load.
"I don't think it's anything new," Okorafor told me. "I think that's really the game plan every week if we're being honest. I think the bigs up front can really make or break a game, not really break a game, but, like, it could be the difference. So it's not really anything new, like any more pressure than another week."
"We take a lot of pride as a group in general," said Onwenu. "You know, we want to run the ball. We want to be physical, and we just want to be obviously - a lot of things depend on us - we want to be in those positions so we can come through for the team."
Mayo has gone out of his way to illustrate how well they ran the ball in the preseason finale (5.1 yards per carry), even with the lineup not yet solidified. Part of that is the scheme. Part of that is doing what the talent up front does best (Onwenu, Sow, Robinson, and David Andrews can move people). But there's one other element that comes into play as well.
"Toughness, for me, is important," said Mayo. "The first place you see toughness is in the weight room. That's the first place where you can see if your team is tough or not."
That message has shown up with the work being done off the field - there's a whole lot of squatting going on (TB12 Method be damned) - and how much the essential veterans have bought into that approach. There's also what's being said from the leaders in the locker room, with Onwenu summing it up best.
"Just hit somebody," he told me with a smile. "I mean, if all else fails, as long as you hit somebody, nobody is gonna be mad at you. "
BARMORE IN THE BUILDING
Wearing a hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants, defensive tackle Christian Barmore bounded through the locker room Wednesday with his trademark smile. Though he didn't stop to talk to the media, I did get to check in with him quickly, and he said he appreciated the well-wishes.
The Pats placed Barmore on the NFI list but with a designation to return. Mayo said they didn't want to close the door on the former Alabama star's season, even if the possibility of coming back to play this year is considered a long shot.
Barmore was diagnosed with blood clots late in July, and the Pats could theoretically not pay his salary this year by league rules but chose to honor their commitment to the player and will pay his full salary (as reported by NFL Network). Smart business. You don't want to alienate one of your best players, especially after signing him to a four-year extension worth $84 million, with $41.8 million guaranteed.
FIRST INJURY REPORT - CHASE PRACTICES FOR BENGALS
