Offensive Linemen Mike Onwenu, Shaq Mason Return To Patriots Practice On Thursday
FOXBORO (CBS) -- The Patriots offensive line will still be down some big bodies on Sunday, but the team should get at least one of its starting linemen back against the Cowboys.
Left guard Mike Onwenu was activated from the COVID-19 list and was a full participant at practice on Thursday. Onwenu and left tackle Isaiah Wynn both landed on the COVID list last week, leaving the line extremely shorthanded against the Texans in Week 5.
There has been no update on Wynn so far in Week 6, so his availability is unlikely against the Cowboys this weekend.
Elsewhere along the line, right guard Shaq Mason was upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday after he missed practice Wednesday with the abdomen injury that kept him out of Week 5. Getting both Onwenu and Mason back on Sunday would be huge for New England.
Running back Damien Harris was also back on Thursday in a limited capacity, after he missed Wednesday's practice with a rib injury.
Last week in Houston, the only regular starter along the offensive line was center David Andrews. Backups Ted Karras, Yodny Cajuste, Justin Herron and James Ferentz started around Andrews and played pretty well, with quarterback Mac Jones sacked just once against the Texans. New England's run game also played well behind the makeshift line, rushing for 126 yards in the 25-22 victory.
Herron did not practice on Thursday, missing the session with an back injury. Corner Shaun Wade (concussion) was the only other player to miss Thursday's practice.
Here is New England's full practice report from Thursday:
Did Not Participate
OL Justin Herron, Back
CB Shaun Wade, Concussion
Limited Availability
LB Ja'Whaun Bentley, Shoulder
DB Cody Davis, Knee
S Kyle Dugger, Hamstring
K Nick Folk, Left Knee
RB Damien Harris, Ribs
CB Jonathan Jones, Ankle
G Shaq Mason, Abdomen
DB Jalen Mills, Hamstring
LB Ronnie Perkins, Ankle
LB Kyle Van Noy, Groin
Tune in to Sunday's Patriots-Cowboys clash on WBZ-TV -- the flagship station of the New England Patriots. Coverage begins a little earlier than usual, with Patriots GameDay at 8:30am. The Patriots and the Cowboys kick off at 4:25pm on WBZ, and after the game, tune in to Patriots 5th Quarter on TV38!
