As the Patriots prepared to take on the Bengals in Week 1, one of the biggest concerns remained the state of the offensive line. Sidy Sow was dealing with an injury he suffered during the preseason and the coaching staff was still experimenting with who would make up the starting lineup, which wasn’t ideal as the regular season was about to begin.

It remained a weak point during the off-season, despite several players being signed or drafted to bolster the vital unit.

The group they started last week’s game didn’t last long. Chukwuma Okorafor struggled as the starting left tackle, forcing Mayo to pull him from the lineup. He was then replaced by Vederian Lowe, who didn’t fare as well in 2023 but held up well enough against Cincinnati’s defense to stay in the game the rest of the afternoon.

Next to Lowe was rookie guard Layden Robinson, a fourth-round pick by Texas A&M who hadn’t been talked about much in the months leading up to the season opener.

However, his work ethic and performance against a formidable team like the Bengals earned him praise from coaches and teammates alike. Robinson’s game footage showed that he could develop into a mainstay on the offensive line in the years to come.

That’s why his addition to the Patriots’ injury report earlier this week could pose a potentially huge problem going into the game, 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 a significant lineup mismatch against defensive lineman Leonard Williams.

While that could get ugly very quickly, the rookie held his own against a Bengals defense that doesn’t deserve to be fired. That’s partly what makes the news that he’s dealing with a shoulder injury all the more concerning, even though he expects to be fully fit by Sunday.

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

It’s good to hear he’s feeling good and, as Mike Reiss said, barring an unexpected injury change, he should be ready to go. Robinson’s presence will become increasingly important as the season progresses with such big question marks surrounding the left tackle position.

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

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