FOXBORO -- The Patriots have several health concerns along their offensive line, and now Shaq Mason's hand is among them.
The second-year guard out of Georgia Tech has a broken hand, according to the Boston Globe's Jim McBride, and the timetable for his return is not yet known.
Mason missed Thursday's preseason game with the Bears after starting at right guard for New England's preseason opener against the Saints on Aug. 11. The 6-foot-1, 300-pounder played in 14 games as a rookie last season, starting in 10.
Mason joins a long list of Patriots linemen currently dealing with injuries. Patriots Insider Tom E. Curran reported on Sunday that Sebastian Vollmer's 2016 season is in jeopardy as he deals with a nagging hip injury. The Patriots have also been without second-year guard Tre' Jackson (on the physically unable to perform list), and veteran guard Jonathan Cooper, who suffered a foot injury early in training camp and has not been spotted at practice since.
With Mason out, the Patriots used Josh Kline as their starting right guard against the Bears. Early in the second quarter, Kline appeared to aggravate a shoulder injury that he suffered last season, but he remained in the game.
Should the Patriots need to turn to other depth pieces at right guard, they could use rookie Ted Karras, who has practiced at all three offensive line positions in training camp.