Cole Strange nearing a return for Patriots … at center?

Patriots

“The position I’m in, is really no different than the position that a lot of guys across the league are in, coming back from injury.”

For the first in over a year, Cole Strange might be back on the field for the Patriots’ offensive line Saturday evening.

The 2022 first-round pick has been on the mend for most of the 2024 NFL season after suffering a torn patella tendon on Dec. 17, 2023, against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Strange was activated ahead of New England’s road game against the Bills last Sunday, but did not log any offensive snaps in the Patriots’ eventual 24-21 loss at Highmark Stadium.

But with starting center Ben Brown in concussion protocol ahead of Saturday’s matchup against the Chargers, Strange might be the next man up for New England.

“I’m fired up for the opportunity, honestly,” Strange told MassLive’s Karen Guregian on Thursday. “I feel like I’ve been working for this for a year now. And I’m just excited for the opportunity, really.”

With Brown’s timetable as far as the concussion protocol unclear, Strange and Lecitus Smith stand as the only two centers left on the roster.

Even though Strange has primarily played at left guard throughout his tenure in Foxborough, he has primarily practiced this season at center as New England looks for more versatility (and a potential replacement for David Andrews in due time).

“The position I’m in, is really no different than the position that a lot of guys across the league are in, coming back from injury,” Strange said. “Maybe they’ve had a week or so of practice, I’ve had multiple weeks.

“I’m in a new position, so I’m still sort of figuring it out, but I’ve had plenty of time … I feel very prepared. We still got a couple more days, but I feel good, I feel good physically, the knees feel healthy.”

Getting back on the gridiron is already a step in the right direction for Strange, who admitted that his rehab back from such a severe leg injury was an arduous process.

“It was crazy,” Strange said in November of his first steps after getting his cast removed. “I felt like a baby deer. It was awkward as hell. The only thing that goes on with it is just doing it. Walking with crutches and then walking without them. Forcing yourself not to limp – not to go onto the right leg. It’s not the same, but it’s kind of the same with football. It’s just doing it.”

Even though New England still has plenty of work to do when it comes to shoring up a porous O-line this offseason, finding out if Strange can hold his own at either center or guard over these final two games would at least check off one question for the Patriots entering 2025.

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.