Patriots could lose offensive leader due to surgery

David Andrews has a difficult decision to make.

According to a source, the Patriots center will need surgery to repair and heal his shoulder after he sustained an injury in the first quarter of the team's loss at San Francisco. If Andrews opts for the surgery now, it will cost him the remainder of the 2024 season.

According to a source, Andrews will decide when to have the procedure. The team captain wants to play this season and overcome the injury, but this could affect his chances of playing in the 2025 season.

At this point, Andrew's decision comes down to when to have the surgery. If he finds out that playing through it will cost him the 2025 season, there's a chance he'll decide to do it now. That means the Patriots won't have their leader, captain and starting player for the remaining 13 games.

Andrews spoke about his injury on his Quick Snap Podcast.

“First of all, it’s frustrating,” Andrews told former teammate Brian Hoyer. “Being injured is a very frustrating thing, especially when you want to be out there playing. As a player, sometimes you have to make decisions about whether it’s best for the team to be out there and whether you can perform.”

The Patriots entered this season with questionable depth at the center position. Backup center Jake Andrews suffered a season-ending lower-body injury this offseason. That led the Patriots to move guard Nick Leverett to the center position.

Leverett took over for Andrews on Sunday in San Francisco. The Patriots also have center Bryan Hudson on the practice squad.

In the podcast, Andrews explained the decision he has to make.

“Some things I'm going to figure out here and see what I can do to be the best player I can be on Sunday. That’s the big thing,” Andrew said. “Anybody can go out there and play; That’s not what it’s about.”

“But it's about being effective and being a player and I think that's the human aspect, more than just the football player – you want to be the best you can be and make sure you can try to do that .” I'm just trying to take it day by day now and weigh some things up and I'll try to get better as quickly as I can and see where it goes. Or something has to go. I’m just trying to figure all this out.”