FOXBORO — Patriots starting left tackle Vederian Lowe and left guard Sidy Sow were non-participants for a third straight practice Monday, a non-padded session that followed a three-day layoff for players.
Lowe has not practiced in almost two weeks, after suffering a reported back/oblique injury. Sow hurt his ankle in the team’s preseason finale at Washington on Aug. 25 and said Monday he is taking it “day to day.” The second-year guard added he’s felt significant improvement over the last few days and has no issue walking on the ankle.
Sow deflected when asked if he expects to be available for Sunday’s season opener at Cincinnati.
Without them, the Patriots’ starting offensive line at practice consisted of left tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, left guard Nick Leverett/Michael Jordan, center David Andrews, rookie right guard Layden Robinson and Mike Onwenu. The coaching staff had been reluctant to try Onwenu at right tackle, his primary position for most of last season, until two weeks ago. It’s unclear whether injuries to Lowe and/or Sow affected their plans, putting Okorafor back at left tackle after he spent most of the summer on the right side.
Patriots coach Jerod Mayo indicated in a press conference Monday that he would have more information to share Lowe and Sow by Friday.
Players are scheduled to be off Tuesday, then return for three straight days of meetings and practices in a traditional regular-season schedule.