FOXBOROUGH, Mass – The New England Patriots offensive line has certainly been through the ringer to start the season. 

Injuries have plagued many members, with others having to step up in their place. 

However, the offensive line is unlike any other position in sports, as explained by two members of the Patriots squad. And because of that, Sunday's game will give them the opportunity to truly show what they are capable of.  

“I guess part of me would like to think that, now that we’re all getting back to where we’re all being able to play together," Cole Strange told A to Z Sports. "There’s something to be said for an offensive line. Like all five guys being able to play together consistently. It’s weird. I don’t understand it. It’s not like anything else in sports. Any other position where you can just put in, plug guys in. The longer a group has played together, the better they work together and that’s really important.”

David Andrews echoed his fellow teammates sentiments. 

“It’s really five guys working together on every play," Andrews said. "It’s the most unnatural thing in sports. I think it’s a very big skill you got to learn and it takes a lot of work and a lot of time and working together and understanding how each person is going to execute their blocks and communication. I think it’s a special thing, it’s a special group and glad to be a part of it.”

Strange was one of two linemen that missed the season opener, being sideline with a knee injury. He along with Michael Onwenu were out, so it was rookies Antonio Mafi and Sidy Sow who joined the line along with veteran tackle Calvin Anderson who spent the entire preseason on the non-football injury and was not with the team.  

“As silly as it sounds, it’s kind of just a matter of having to do it," Strange said about the experience the rookies got while playing in the season opener. "There’s something to be said for learning by getting tossed in the fires. There’s no other choice. You kind of just have to step up and they have and some other guys have as well.”

In the second game, Strange returned and even had an exciting moment at the end of the game where he was narrowly the one responsible with giving the Patriots a crucial first down. However, it was reviewed and found to be just short. 

“It was nice," Strange said about being back out there. "Obviously, it was aggravating how it ended. But it kind of reminds you whenever you’re out, how much you want to go back in and reminds you how much you love it.”

Along with Strange, Onwenu returned for the game against the Miami Dolphins, but Sidy Sow and Trent Brown were sidelined due to concussions. This brought on a whole new configuration for the offensive line. 

But one thing remained the same, and that was Andrews at center. So going into this game, he has high expectations for the offensive line, regardless of who is playing. 

“I think we can all do a better job and it’s really not just one person – us, them. It’s really all of us and they have had some great opportunities and that’s a big thing in this league. You never know what opportunities you’re gonna get. And we all can be better and keep moving forward.” 

Yet it seems nearly all linemen are seemingly healthy heading into a divisional matchup against the New York Jets. And Strange made one thing clear. 

“It’s nice to have everyone back out there and working together consistently.”

Patriots’ Michael Onwenu glad to be back with team after missing season opener

Onwenu returned to the field on Sunday night.

Featured Image via Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports