It was a really tough offseason for Michael Onwenu. 

The Patriots starting right guard underwent offseason ankle surgery and was then forced to spend training camp on the physically unable to perform list. Onwenu was activated in late July, but New England has been easing him back into it. 

After sitting out in the season opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Onwenu returned for the second game against the Miami Dolphins. 

"It's been a long time since my last game, so it felt good being out there," Onwenu told reporters on Monday. "Still got little kinks to work back and just still get back in a groove with things and be the player I want to be. But it felt good to be back out there under the lights."

Yet, while he has been itching to get back out on the field, he has always been aware of the coaches plan for him. 

"They kind of told me that they was just gonna work me in," Onwenu said. "I doubt anyone's every 100 percent, but we're just gonna take it slow, week by week, and just increase and see how it goes."

Onwenu was often out with the team during those sessions where he couldn't physically practice, ensuring that when he did return, he would be ready. However, the natural competitor in him wanted to join in on the fun, so having to just watch was very tough. 

"It was a big challenge. This was the first for me, it was kind of foreign territory," Onwenu said. "It was a rough spot for me, But when I came back I made the most of it and just enjoyed being back around my teammates and

"Just watching practice was kind of rough, just watching them, wanting to be out there, wanting to just run out there and be on the field and all that," Onwenu added. "So it was a progression and I'm happy I'm here right now."

The offensive line has taken a hit in recent weeks, with Onwenu and Cole Strange being out the first week followed by Trent Brown and rookie Sidy Sow in Week 2. However, the hope is that everyone will be ready to go for Week 3 and bounce back from the rough start to the season.

"After a loss like that, especially just the game that it was, it was tough. But we obviously have things that are promising, but at the end of the day those things don't matter if we don't win games," Owenu said. "So that's the main goal, to win games and score points." 

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Featured Image via David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports