David

Andrews

Andrews will officially announce his retirement via a press conference next week. A former UDFA, Andrews spent 10 years in the league, all of which came in Foxborough. He started 121 games and won two Super Bowls as a Patriot. Andrews was surprisingly released by New England earlier this offseason in a move that only saved them $2.7 million in cap space. Instead of looking for work elsewhere, the veteran lineman chose to hang up the cleats for good.

As Reiss points out, Andrews is an eight-time captain for the Patriots. The veteran center is recovering from a shoulder surgery that limited him to just four games last season and could opt for retirement rather than continuing his career elsewhere. A pillar of the Patriots’ franchise for several years, Andrews has started 121 of the 124 games he’s appeared in and has spent his entire career in New England. We’ll see where things go from here, but the two-time Super Bowl champ is now free to sign with any team interested in his services.

Andrews will undergo surgery and is done for the season. He sustained the shoulder injury in Week 4’s loss to the 49ers and reportedly considered playing through the ailment before opting for surgery. New England’s offensive line, graded by PFF as the NFL’s third worst pass blocking unit, could get even worse with Andrews out.

Andrews’ injury has yet to be disclosed but he was seen walking to the locker room accompanied by the Patriots training staff. The stalwart center is a critical player for the Patriots’ offense. Any missed time is an issue.

The Pats’ pivot was the biggest question mark in a game without many injury concerns. Hopefully this short-week contest doesn’t change that for the Jets and Pats heading into Week 4. Inactive for the Patriots are CB Marco Wilson, QB Joe Milton, DE Jamree Kromah, LB Ja’Whaun Bentley, LT Vederian Lowe and LG Sidy Sow.

Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Andrews expressed confidence that he will be able to play through the hip injury this week. Andrews was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday. Barring a setback, he should be good to go for the Pats’ Thursday matchup with New York. Fellow offensive lineman Sidy Sow remains out for Week 3.

Also listed questionable for the Patriots are C David Andrews, OL Mike Onwenu, and OT Trent Brown. Injury issues along the offensive line have contributed to a poor run game through six weeks, with running back Rhamondre Stevenson one of the most inefficient backs in the league. The matchup against the Bills tilts expected production towards the ground game but concerns over an eventual game script that could move the Patriots away from the run leaves fantasy managers of Patriots backs potentially looking for other options for Week 7.

As is LT Trent Brown (illness). Andrews has gone from a potentially season-ending injury to missing only one game. His presence on the pivot is a huge boost for Rhamondre Stevenson and company as the Pats try to spring the upset.

Rapoport’s source notes that Andrews’ return is far from a guarantee, but said there is a chance. The Patriots’ center was feared to have suffered a season-ending thing injury in Sunday’s win over the Jets, but a “battery of tests” concluded that a return in 2022 may be possible for the eighth-year veteran. Andrews missed two games with a concussion earlier this season and will be replaced by James Ferentz, who started in each of Andrews’ first two absences.

Andrews’ thigh injury could ultimately be season-ending, which would be a blow to the Patriots’ offense. At a minimum, the Patriots will be without Andrews when they take on the Vikings on Thursday night.