Patriots' Vederian Lowe Injured in Practice

FOXBORO – The New England Patriots' offensive line has encountered another challenge as starting left tackle Vederian Lowe exited practice early on Wednesday due to an injury. Lowe, who has been a key player throughout training camp and the preseason, left the field midway through a two-hour session, visibly favoring his lower back. He walked off under his own power but did not return to practice. Lowe joined the Patriots last season after being traded from the Minnesota Vikings and played in 11 games, starting eight. However, his performance was subpar, allowing 41 pressures on 290 pass-blocking snaps, resulting in a low grade from Pro Football Focus. The Patriots' offensive line struggled significantly last season, and expectations for improvement in 2024 remain low. With Lowe's injury, rookie Caedan Wallace stepped in at left tackle, having previously been considered for the position after being drafted in the third round. However, Wallace has faced difficulties adjusting to the new role. Other potential candidates for the left tackle position include veteran Calvin Anderson and Chukwuma Okorafor, who has also struggled when moved to the left side during camp. As the regular season approaches, the Patriots are likely to explore all available options to bolster their offensive line, including potential free agent signings, as they seek to address their ongoing struggles in this critical area.