Report: Cole Strange’s Return to Patriots Roster on Hold as He Continues to…
Cole Strange will not return to the New England Patriots’ active roster just yet, head coach Jerod Mayo announced during a press conference on Friday. He added that the former first-round draft pick is expected to return to the line up at some point down the stretch.
“Cole won’t play on Sunday,” Mayo said before adding that he does “anticipate Cole playing football for us this year.”
As of right now and heading into the Patriots’ upcoming game against the Indianapolis Colts. Strange will therefore remain on the physically unable to perform list even though he recently returned to practice. The 26-year-old started the season on the list while still recovering from a torn patellar tendon suffered last December.
Before his injury, the 29th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft had started 27 games as New England’s left guard. Whether he will fill that same spot again after his eventual return remains to be seen: the Patriots primarily used him at center after he started practicing again last Wednesday.
No matter if starting at center or guard, though, simply getting Strange back on the field would be good news for the Patriots and their battered offensive line. And while he is not at that point yet from a physical perspective, Mayo said that he is mentally ready to go.
“He’s done a great job,” the rookie head coach said about the Chattanooga product. “Really every day in here, rehabbing; every day in here in all the meetings. So, the mental aspect when he’s ready to go shouldn’t be too big of a hurdle for him. Just excited to get him out there, but not this week.”
The Patriots’ game against the Colts is set for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
