As the Patriots prepared for their first game against the Bengals, the state of the offensive line remained the biggest concern. Sidy Sow was dealing with an injury sustained in the preseason and the coaching staff was still experimenting with the makeup of the starting lineup, which was not ideal given the impending start of the regular season.

This has been a consistent weakness throughout the offseason, despite several players being signed or drafted to improve the important unit.

The group they started the game with last week didn’t last long, as Chukwuma Okorafor struggled at left tackle and Mayo had to take him out of the lineup. He was then replaced by Vederian Lowe, who didn’t do too well in 2023 but held his own well enough against Cincinnati’s defense to stay in the game the rest of the afternoon.

Also in action alongside Lowe was rookie guard Layden Robinson, a fourth-round pick from Texas A&M who was not talked about much in the months leading up to the season opener.

However, his work ethic and performance against a team as strong as the Bengals earned him a lot of praise from coaches and teammates, and Robinson’s game record proved that he could develop into an anchor of the offensive line in the years to come.

Because of this, his addition to the Patriots’ injured list earlier this week could become a significant issue come game time, especially since the Seahawks’ defensive line is one of the best groups in the entire league.

A solid performance last week gave Robinson high hopes for the rest of the season, despite the likelihood of significant inconsistency in battling defensive tackle Leonard Williams.

While this could get very ugly very quickly, the rookie did well against a Bengals defensive line that isn’t worth writing off. That’s partly why the news that he suffered a shoulder injury is even more concerning, even if he believes he should be good to go on Sunday.

Hopefully that is the case and Robinson will be on the field, because otherwise the offensive line will probably be the reason the Patriots have no chance of winning this game.

It’s good to hear he’s doing well and, as Mike Reiss said, he should be ready to go unless his injury changes unexpectedly. Robinson’s presence will become more important as the season progresses, with the left tackle position still surrounded by big question marks.

The progress and experience he gains will only make him better and based on the statements of those who work closely with him, he will be a star as a starting guard in no time.

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