Patriots fans can breathe a sigh of relief. 4-time Pro Bowler Logan Mankins has been activated from the PUP roughly 6 months after having knee surgery and will almost definitely start week 1. He’s only missed 1 game in 8 years after going in the 1st round in 2005, but it was unclear if he’d be back for the start of the season after partially tearing his ACL in the Super Bowl. The Patriots’ tight lipped nature with injuries didn’t help either, but he appears to be fine.
The bigger issue on the Patriots’ offensive line is right guard, as Brian Waters still has not reported and could retire rather than play his age 35 season. Waters made his 6th Pro Bowl last season in his first year in New England after spending 11 with the Chiefs and graded out as ProFootballFocus’ 4th ranked guard. In his absence, center Dan Connolly, a mediocre player, has shifted back to guard and Dan Koppen, who is coming off a broken leg that ended his 2011 season week 1 and heading into his age 33 season, will be the center.
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