FOXBORO — Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo didn’t rule out the possibility of offensive linemen Cole Strange and Caedan Wallace returning to action Sunday against the Cardinals.
In fact, it sounds like Mayo expects Strange, the Patriots’ 2022 first-round pick who has been out all season with a torn patellar tendon suffered Week 15 of the 2023 campaign, to suit up. Strange [was activated](https://www.bostonherald.com/2024/12/10/patriots-activate-cole-strange-in-series-of-roster-moves/) off of the PUP list on Tuesday.
“With Cole, he has the flexibility to play center and guard, and hopefully he’ll be up for the game this week,” Mayo said. “He understands both of those positions, and I’m excited to see him. I’m excited to see him out there in full pads today at practice and excited to see him at the game, hopefully.”
Mayo wouldn’t get into specifics of how Strange would be used if he is active on Sunday. The Patriots currently have rookie Layden Robinson playing Strange’s natural position of left guard. Ben Brown has been filling in admirably at center since being signed from the Raiders’ practice squad in Week 6.
“Ben’s been great. The first week he got here, he started that game,” Mayo said. “So, he’s just one of those guys that loves football, wants to do everything right, is a great teammate and a great professional. So, look, we compete all the time. Every position, they have to compete each and every week.”
Mayo said he would consult rookie quarterback Drake Maye about who he’s more comfortable taking snaps from.
“The quarterback-center exchange starts every play, and it’s definitely weighted in that decision,” Mayo said.
As for Wallace, who has been out since Week 4 with an ankle injury, Mayo said the rookie third-round pick could play as soon as this weekend. The Patriots would need to activate him off of injured reserve. He [returned to practice](https://www.bostonherald.com/2024/12/09/patriots-ot-caedan-wallace-returns-to-practice-could-he-play-sunday/) on Monday.
“This is a big day for a lot of guys who haven’t played a lot this year, Caedan being one of them, to go out there in pads and see what it looks like,” Mayo said.
There’s a clearer path for Wallace to enter the starting lineup. Wallace was a right tackle in college at Penn State. The Patriots’ current right tackle, Demontrey Jacobs, was benched during the Patriots’ Week 12 loss to the Rams but started Week 13 against the Colts. Wallace’s lone start this season came at left tackle. He appeared in three other games as a jumbo tight end.