The New England Patriots’ offense already suffered a big loss before the 2019 regular season was even kicked off: David Andrews, who has been a fixture along the team’s offensive line ever since earning a full-time starting job in 2016, was hospitalized in late August and later diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs. As a result of the diagnosis, the Patriots’ starting center was forced to spend the entire campaign on the sidelines.
Six months after New England placed Andrews on season-ending injured reserve in late August of last year, however, he continues to get positive updates about his medical status. In mid-January, he already pointed out that he “should be good to go” for the 2020 season. Now, ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss reported that the 27-year-old “continues to receive positive medical reports and feels like he is in excellent condition physically.”
The start of the Patriots’ offseason workout program in April should give more clarity about his recovery and status, but this report obviously is a good one for not just the player but the team as well. New England, after all, is facing an uncertain future at numerous key positions on offense: quarterback Tom Brady is headed for unrestricted free agency, and so are starting left guard Joe Thuney and Andrews’ replacement in 2019, Ted Karras.
Getting the veteran and team captain back would therefore be a positive development to ensure stability up front, especially with Thuney appearing to be a safe bet to leave New England later this month. Andrews will reportedly continue to take a cautious approach six months away from the start of the 2020 season, but it seems that he is trending in the right direction.