Patriots' David Andrews details harrowing experience with blood clots in 2019

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The New England Patriots are eager to move on from the 2019 season. That's especially true for David Andrews.

Andrews' 2019 campaign ended before it even began when he was hospitalized with blood clots in late August. The Patriots placed the veteran center on injured reserve days later.

Andrews hasn't spoken much about what he actually went through last summer, but he recently went into detail about his ordeal in an interview with 247Sports.com's Rusty Mansell.

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"I had been dealing with some chest pains and troubling breathing, started coughing blood the first day we reported to training camp actually," Andrews said. "All of this was partly my fault, just being dumb and pushing through it. I thought I was sick and I really did not feel like myself. It was not like I was having a bad camp. I just was not having a consistent camp."

The Patriots reported to training camp on July 25, meaning Andrews dealt with the issue for nearly a month.

He even played in New England's third preseason game on Aug. 22, and told Mansell there were a few plays from the game he doesn't remember.

Andrews said that the following morning, he saw a medical specialist who delivered some sobering news.

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"Specialist comes out and says I have blood clots, I had no idea what that meant," Andrews said. "I told the doctor I needed to get back home to let my dogs out, and from that point on, I knew it was serious. They would not let me leave and I spent five nights there. My first call was to my dog walker, actually. ... I really had no idea how dangerous it was."

The silver lining in Andrews' lost season? He still was involved with the team despite not being able to play.

"I got to be a part of the team, got to watch film with the guys," Andrews said. "I got to lead a pass rushing meeting each week. I was still a captain and got to attend those meetings. I got to spend more time with my wife. It has been a different year. I am ready to get back."

The Patriots let fill-in starting center Ted Karras join the Miami Dolphins in free agency, so it appears they're confident Andrews will return in 2020. That'd be great news for a New England team that would benefit from the 27-year-old's play and leadership in its first season without Tom Brady since 2000.

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