Logan Mankins tore his ACL in the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants in February and needed surgery. However, since it wasn’t a full tear, most believed that he would be back in time for Training Camp or the start of the season at the very latest. A report from ESPN.com’s James Walker today was in contrast to that expectation, saying that Mankins was a candidate to start the season on the PUP, which would shut him down for at least 6 games.

If that happens, the Patriots internal replacement options would be veteran Robert Gallery, 2011 5^th round pick Marcus Cannon, or Dan Connolly, a versatile interior offensive lineman expected to start at center. Connolly started at left guard in Mankins’ absence in 2010. Dan Koppen, who is currently competing with Connolly at center, would then be the starting center.

All that being said, at the same time, there is a contrasting report from Comcast Sports New England’s Tom Curran that he is “told” Mankins will be back for week 1. It really just seems like no one knows anything about the situation and that’s exactly how the tight lipped Bill Belichick likes it. In fact, no one outside of the organization knew he even had the surgery until a month after it happened. Don’t expect Belichick to provide any insight on the situation going forward. We’ll just have to believe Mankins is healthy when we see it. My money is still on him being back for week 1.

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