New England Patriots former starting guard Cole Strange was activated last week but didn’t get any snaps in the Week 16 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
That could change in Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Strange suffered a season-ending knee last year and has been preparing for a late 2024 return. Coach Jerod Mayo confirmed starting center Ben Brown was in concussion protocol on Thursday. When asked if Strange could be in line for snaps at center, Mayo named both Strange and Lecitus Smith as options to potentially replace Brown if he fails to clear protocol in time.
“Ben Brown is in the protocol. Once they’re in the protocol, it’s out of our hands,” Mayo told media members. “It’s in the league’s hands. Now in saying that, we have to have guys ready. You think about Lecitus. You think about Cole. You think about those guys, and they got to be ready to go.”
With the game being on Saturday, that’s one less day for Brown to clear protocol.
Some have wondered what Strange would look like in a potential move to center, but given his lack of reps this season with rookie quarterback Drake Maye, it would have been risky for the team to just throw him out there.
The situation has obviously changed now, and they might not have a choice this week.
