Marcus

Cannon

The Patriots will now be without their starting right tackle for a minimum of four games after Cannon was placed on the injured reserve Saturday. Isaiah Wynn should return to right tackle with Cannon out. The team is in a tough spot with both their starting right tackle and center out for a game against the stout Indianapolis front.

Cannon has taken over the starting right tackle job over the last several weeks. Isaiah Wynn should return to the right tackle spot with Cannon out. With C David Andrews also out due to a concussion, the Patriots will have two backups starting against the Colts.

The move clears $5.2 million in cap space and leaves behind $0 in dead money. It was frankly a no-brainer with a player who is about to turn 34 and was limited to four appearances by a back issue last season. Cannon has years of experience and a Bill Belichick pedigree, but his age and the fact that he has only four caps over the past two years will be working against him on the open market.

Cannon has a year remaining on a five-year deal signed with the Patriots in 2016. The Texans got four games out of Cannon last season before a back injury shut him down and could move on from the 33-year-old, who has no guaranteed money left. Cannon’s release would save Houston $5.2 million in cap space.

Cannon has a disc issue that has caused sciatica. He’ll now miss at least three games while on injured reserve. Charlie Heck will start in place of Cannon. The loss of Cannon is a slight downgrade for an offense that no one was targeting in the first place.

It is unclear if Cannon will actually be ready for Week 1, but we now know he won’t miss the first six games of the season. Cannon underwent “minor” knee surgery in June after being acquired from the Patriots in March. If Cannon can manage to stay on the field, he is probably the first man up for swing tackle duties.

Cannon underwent “minor” knee surgery in mid-June, which wasn’t expected to affect his participation in training camp. Turns out that’s far from the case as Houston won’t have either him or Lane Taylor (knee) to open practices. it isn’t the best start for an individual who was only active for 50 of a possible 64 games from 2016 to 2019 due to injury. When/If healthy, Cannon’s presence is enough to at least keep Houston’s trenches from bottoming out.

Rapoport adds that Cannon’s scope “isn’t likely” to affect the latter’s participation for training camp. Houston’s barren trenches hinge on that diagnosis after the organization took on the two years, $13.2 million remaining on Cannon’s contract. Although his timeline is positive, it isn’t the best start for an individual who was only active for 50 of a possible 64 games from 2016 to 2019 due to injury.

The deal reportedly includes pick swaps in the fourth, fifth, and sixth round of the draft. Cannon opted out of the 2020 season and his health was a mixed bag before this past year. He was only active for 50 of a possible 64 games from 2016 to 2019 but Cannon did start in every game he was healthy for. Cannon was graded as an above-average pass-blocker by Pro Football Focus in 2019 while playing over 1,000 snaps, all of which came at right tackle. The Texans have been active in the trade market to open the new league year but the elephant in the room remains Deshaun Watson’s status with the team.

Rapoport’s report is further confirmation that the Pats will get their key players back next season after they opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19. “Physically, all are in a good place,” Rapoport said. Without Hightower and Chung last year, New England allowed the 15th most yards per game and the seventh fewest points per game. Cannon will be $9.62 million against the cap in 2021, Chung will cost $5.13 million against the cap, and Hightower will cost $11.32 million against the cap. With upgrades at quarterback, tight end, wide receiver, and running back, the Patriots could easily be playoff contenders in 2021.