Patriots HC Jerod Mayo inadvertently gives telling clue about offensive line plans

HARROW ON THE HILL, England – The New England Patriots will go into their seventh consecutive game with a different starting offensive line combination.  And with that, it could mean moving their versatile offensive lineman back outside.  Michael Onwenu began the season as the starting right tackle for the team. But in the past two […]

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The New England Patriots offensive line practices in Harrow ahead of their London game against the Jacksonville Jaguars
Sophie Weller – A to Z Sports

HARROW ON THE HILL, England – The New England Patriots will go into their seventh consecutive game with a different starting offensive line combination. 

And with that, it could mean moving their versatile offensive lineman back outside. 

Michael Onwenu began the season as the starting right tackle for the team. But in the past two games, the Patriots moved him back inside to guard. 

He told reporters this week that he was practicing at both positions, but based on the Patriots downgrading starting left tackle Vederian Lowe to out, it seemed pretty clear what the team's best move would be. 

Mayo was asked about pushing Onwenu out to tackle on Friday, but wouldn't answer directly. 

"I don't want to get into where he's going to line up, but I would say – and I've always said this – he's a very versatile player," Mayo explained. "So, whether it's at guard or at tackle, he's able to function and to function at a high l.evel."

However, he was later asked if rookie Layden Robinson has developed as a player. 

"Yeah, the first thing I would say is Layden is one of the hardest practicing guys on the team. He always shows tremendous effort," Mayo said. "Sometimes, you hit a wall, and he's gone through that wall."

"He's a very tough player, and I look forward to his future as well," he added.

But it was this one statement that gave a major hint as to what the plan is for the offensive line this weekend. 

"He'll play (on Sunday)," Mayo said about Robinson. 

Robinson has been seen at right guard throughout the season, which is where Onwenu has been the past two weeks. So if the plan is for Robinson to play, it seems clear that they would move Onwenu back out to tackle.

And during the media-attended portion of practice on Friday, Onwenu was seen taking reps at tackle. 

So based on this, here is A to Z Sports' projected starting five on Sunday in London: 

LT: Demontrey Jacobs
LG: Michael Jordan
C: Ben Brown
RG: Layden Robinson
RT: Mike Onwenu