Dan

Connolly

Wrap it up big fella! Connolly was expected to compete with Vince Manuwai at left guard but is reportedly now a candidate for IR.

Connolly was considered a possible candidate to start before suffering the injury.

The Patriots had been working to bring Connolly back before the start of free agency, and he’ll return as the team’s starting center. The move likely signals the end of Dan Koppen’s time in New England. Connolly missed three games with a groin injury last season, but has made 24 starts between guard and tackle the past two years. He’s flashed highly ordinary talent to date, but it’s possible he could take a step forward in 2012 as he settles in at center.

Koppen’s New England future was in question after he visited Tennessee while the Pats re-signed Dan Connolly. Koppen is entering his age-33 season after missing 15 games with a broken ankle in 2011. He’s the clear favorite to start at center, leaving Connolly free to fill in at both guard spots. The Titans are still in the market for a center upgrade after whiffing on four veterans.

The Pats are also talking with special-teams ace Matt Slater. Connolly was limited to 13 games (11 starts) last season as he dealt with a groin injury. Ihedigbo appeared in all 16 games, making the first 12 starts of his career in the process. He notched 69 tackles, but was a major liability in coverage.

This comes despite New England re-signing Dan Koppen to a two-year deal on Friday. The 32-year old Koppen was widely expected to step back into the starting job after missing all but one game in 2011 due to a broken ankle. The Globe, however, notes a slip in play after a poor training camp back in 2010. Koppen is ticketed for the No. 2 job.

Light is contemplating retirement, while Koppen will likely be allowed to walk after breaking his ankle in Week 1 last season. The Patriots’ “hope” is to re-sign fellow free agent C Dan Connolly. According to the Globe, the “big question” is if Light will be willing to come back “as a backup at less money.” The Patriots want to start Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer at tackle.

Koppen was sent to injured reserve after breaking his ankle in Week 1. Fellow C Dan Connolly is also a free agent, but is three years younger than Koppen, who will turn 33 in September. After Connolly struggled in both pass protection and run blocking this season, however, the Pats should be open to re-signing Koppen if the price is right.

Connolly was getting pushed around early in the game, and when he returned it was more of the same. His replacement Ryan Wendell actually looked better than he did. Should Wendell draw the start over an injured Connolly in Week 12, he will struggle to hold the point.

Brandon Spikes (knee), Dan Connolly (groin), and Patrick Chung were also downgraded to out. It’s not yet known if Chung is a healthy scratch after being a surprise inactive in Week 13. The Patriots’ current safety depth includes James Ihedigbo, Nate Jones, Sergio Brown, and WR Matthew Slater.