Patriots HC explains whether veteran's injury could delay Drake Maye's takeover as starting QB

New England Patriots center David Andrews is tied with long-snapper Joe Cardona for the longest tenure on the team among current players.

Andrews signed a contract extension over the offseason to keep him in New England through the 2025 campaign, but it was reported on Wednesday that his 2024 season is likely over.

Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team theorized that the 2015 undrafted free agent's injury could have a domino effect and delay rookie quarterback Drake Maye's installment as the Patriots' starting signal-caller.

Jerod Mayo (a former teammate of Andrews) has said multiple times this fall that veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett will remain New England's QB1 until the first-year head coach says otherwise.

Maye has appeared in just one game off the Patriots bench this season, as Brissett has started all four contests and led the group to a 1-3 start. New England upset the Cincinnati Bengals, 16-10, in Week 1 on the road but have since lost three in a row and been outscored 77-36.

Brissett has gone 61-for-101 (60.4 completion percentage) for 536 passing yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Maye took 16 snaps in the Patriots' Week 3 loss to the New York Jets and finished 4-for-8 for 22 passing yards.

Mayo was asked how Andrews' injury could impact Maye's timeline and dismissed the idea.

The longtime captain is in his 10th year (ninth season) with the organization, as he missed the entire 2019 campaign after being diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism.

Andrews has played in 124 regular-season games, made 121 starts and appeared in 12 playoff contests. The 32-year-old helped the Patriots earn championships at the end of the 2016 and 2018 seasons with victories in Super Bowl LI and Super Bowl LIII, respectively.