FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- With starting left tackle Matt Light being scratched with a right ankle injury, the Patriots moved some parts around on their offensive line in warmups.
Starting left guard Logan Mankins was moved to left tackle, with Donald Thomas inserted at left guard.
Mankins played left tackle at Fresno State, but has been solely a guard with the Patriots. There have been times where he's lined up as a tackle in goal-line situations, but he's never played there extensively.
In the 2005 playoffs, when then-starting offensive tackle Tom Ashworth was ill during warmups, Mankins lined up there as the team got ready for the game. But Ashworth recovered by kickoff and Mankins stayed at guard.
If the Patriots keep Mankins at left tackle today, he figures to see plenty of Jason Taylor and/or Cameron Wake, two disruptive edge rushers. That might explain why Bill Belichick is exploring the idea of Mankins at left tackle over rookie Nate Solder.
