New England Patriots
“I’m either winning or I’m learning.”
Caleb Lomu has been impressed and struggled at times during training camp. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
FOXBOROUGH — As expected, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Patriots rookie tackle Caleb Lomu this summer.
Lomu — selected 28th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft — isn’t exactly going to be counted on to step immediately into a starting role on New England’s offensive line.
But, that scenario could shift in a hurry, especially if injuries or age creep up on either second-year pro Will Campbell or 35-year-old veteran Morgan Moses.
Lomu getting pressed into a starting role this season might be asking a lot from the former University of Utah tackle — especially with his camp so far both rife with decisive wins in one-on-one battles and inundated with some lopsided losses against established NFL edge rushers.
But speaking this week, Lomu shared his mindset when it comes to navigating the expected peaks and valleys that come with finding one’s footing in the NFL.
“Everyone that is out on this field belongs to be here, and so I’m not going to win every rep,” Lomu said. “I’m either winning, or I’m learning. Especially in the 1-on-1 [drills], it’s a place to try different things.”
Lomu’s standing on New England’s depth chart was seemingly slipping late last week. Even with Campbell missing a few practices, 2025 seventh-round pick Marcus Bryant seemingly leapfrogged Lomu, earning reps on the first-team offense at left tackle.
But, Lomu fared better this week, especially when pushed back to his natural position at left tackle — especially during 1-on-1 matchups.
Lomu was back at left tackle with the second unit during Tuesday’s joint practice with the Colts, while also mixing in at right tackle in place of Moses, who was limited against Indy.
While Lomu feels more comfortable at left tackle, he acknowledged that he’ll need to hone his talents on the other side of the offensive line. The writing is on the wall that the Patriots view Lomu as a long-term solution for Moses at right tackle, given the latter’s age and mileage at this stage of his career.
“It’s been good,” Lomu said of making the switch between left and right tackle. “It’s a little bit difficult at first. Just different footwork, different hand placement, going the opposite way on plays and from one side. It’s throwing with a different hand, kicking with a different foot. But then, it’s just playing tackle, the position I played my whole life.”
Lomu might stand as Moses’ eventual successor in Foxborough. But, the veteran right tackle has taken Lomu under his wing this summer to help the rookie settle into a role with the Patriots.
Moses’ top lesson for Lomu — or any rookie, for that matter?
“You have a laundry list of things you want to get completed,” Moses explained last week. “And I try to tell him, ‘Don’t take that laundry list out on the field with you. Take one of those things off the list every day.’ When you go out there and try to work on this, that and other, your mind is spinning and you get up to the football, the snap count is going, and you play slower.”
Lomu has taken Moses’ lessons to heart, focusing on incremental growth and small tweaks in techniques during camp in hopes of greater returns once the stakes are raised in the fall.
“When you come out here and have multiple things in your head [that you’re] thinking about, that’s going to slow you down, especially going against these guys on this defense,” Lomu said.
“[It’s] coming out with one thing to work on, whether it’s tight hands, working with your punch, your kick, staying low. For me, it’s always working my hands. Having tight hands. That’s what it was today.”
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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