As the New England Patriots prepare for their playoff matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, there’s a bout of concern in regard to the offensive line and the depth behind it as multiple players are now managing illnesses and missing practices only a few days before the game.
It was reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss that starting center Garrett Bradbury and backup offensive tackle Vederian Lowe are both dealing with an illness, while starting tackle Morgan Moses returned to the practice field after he recovered from an illness as well.
It’s worth mentioning that backup swing tackle Thayer Munford Jr. has a knee injury that’s holding him from practice. And starting rookie guard Jared Wilson is still working his way back from the concussion protocol, but he’s back on the field and out of the non-contact jersey.
The offensive line has been one of the most durable position groups on the team this year, only using four different starting combinations and having their best five players available for 11 out of 17 games this season.
With the Patriots being in the playoffs for the first time since 2021 and turning around two consecutive 4-13 seasons over the last two years, New England is doing all it can to make sure that it's prepared for any variable that may arise. That said, the Patriots signed veteran offensive lineman Sebastian Gutierrez to the practice squad.
Patriots Add to Offensive Line Depth with Practice Squad Signing Before Playoffs
Gutierrez went undrafted in 2022, and he was actually on the Patriots’ practice squad for one week that season. When he was released from the practice squad, Gutierrez was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders when Josh McDaniels was the head coach. It was the first time that Gutierrez was on a 53-man roster in his career, and he received a future/reserve contract at the end of the season for his efforts.
It’s worth noting that Gutierrez spent most of this season on the Patriots’ practice squad as it is. He signed with the team at the end of September, and then he was released at the end of December before re-signing with the franchise this week.
With Gutierrez now in the picture, it gives New England a bit of reassurance going into the playoffs with another depth piece along the offensive line. If Wilson is unable to suit up to play, it will be Ben Brown who gets the starting nod. If that’s the case, the need for an extra lineman is still valid heading into a playoff game.
The other potential variable to keep in mind is if Munford is unable to play, then the jumbo formation is out of whack, as he serves as the extra tight end in those sets. Munford has played a lot of fullback in recent weeks, which gives the Pats a boost in the run game.
Gutierrez likely wouldn’t line up as a fullback, considering that he weighs significantly less than Munford, but without him, the need for an additional lineman heading into the playoffs is still valid.
The Patriots can elevate Gutierrez from the practice squad in the playoffs if they need to. In his career, Gutierrez has been on seven different teams, but he’s only been able to crack the practice squad for five of those teams. He’s only played in two games during his career: one for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022 and one for the San Francisco 49ers in 2024.
This is a great decision by the Patriots, as they’re being proactive and prepared rather than reactive and unprepared for anything that can happen in the playoffs.