Mike Vrabel explains Caleb Lomu’s playing time

Down by three scores in the third quarter, the Patriots made a change at right tackle. Morgan Moses, the 35-year-old starter, was replaced by first-round pick Caleb Lomu.

Lomu has played sparingly this season logging four offensive snaps against the Steelers and none against the Seahawks.

After the game, Vrabel told reporters that he saw the lopsided score in the Patriots loss to the Jaguars as an opportunity to get Lomu some more experience.

“I just made a decision, you know what I mean?” Vrabel said. “It’s a long season. Morgan is [35]. I don’t know what to tell you. I didn’t think we were going to come back and win the game, as much as I wished that we were, I didn’t think that we were. So, I made a decision.”

Vrabel said Moses’s starting job is not in jeopardy as far as he is aware of. The Patriots fell to Jacksonville 35-6 and the entire offense struggled, particularly quarterback Drake Maye who once again did not look comfortable playing behind his offensive line.

“I didn’t have a chance to watch the tape, but it was ‘let’s get Caleb some reps’. We were down however much we were down. That was just me making a decision.”

The Patriots’ offensive line depth has taken some hits in recent weeks, with starting right tackle Mike Onwenu being placed on injured reserve due to a broken ankle. During Saturday’s game, reserve interior offensive lineman Greg Van Roten left early with a thigh injury. Walter Rouse subbed in for Van Roten.

Vrabel had said at various points throughout the summer that the Patriots have considered playing Lomu at guard. Lomu worked at both tackle spots during training camp, as well as jumbo tight end, but the Patriots have not added much guard to his plate just yet.

Lomu’s snaps on Sunday afternoon were at right tackle in place of Moses.

The Patriots, losers of two of their first three games, will head to Buffalo next week for a divisional clash.

“I think it’s one day at a time, it’s what we can do to get healthy and improve as a football team,” Vrabel said. “That’s all we can do. It’s going to start with me and my ability to teach, my ability to get the guys in the right spots and then also have a practice plan that I feel gives us the best chance to be ready on Sunday.”

Khari A. Thompson

Sports Reporter

Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.