Ryan

Wendell

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.

Ryan Wendell will draw the start and struggle to hold the point of attack, but he won’t be much worse than Connolly was playing hurt last week. The Eagles don’t boast a strong run defense and find their pass rush on the outside, so we’re not overly concerned about the situation.

Wendell started all 16 games at center for the Pats, who often used a speed-no-huddle offense that increased their play count. Wendell is a former UDFA out of Fresno State. Jaguars SS Dawan Landry led all defensive players in 2012 snaps played. Ravens S Sean Considine led the NFL in special teams snaps.

The Panthers had two roster spots to fill after sending centers Ryan Kalil and Gino Gradkowski to injured reserve. An ex-Patriot, Wendell has 49 games of starting experience. He could be a candidate to man the pivot in Carolina.

Wendell has been out of the league since OTAs. With C Ryan Kalil (shoulder) suffering a setback last week, he could add interior line depth. The Panthers also visited with OG Josh LeRibeus.

It’s been described as a minor “clean-out” procedure that shouldn’t affect Wendell’s availability for training camp. Wendell started the final 15 games -- three at center and 12 at right guard -- last season after opening the year as a backup. He finished as PFF’s 30th-ranked guard out of 78 qualifiers.

It’s Wendell’s first known interest in free agency. ESPN’s Dan Graziano expects the Giants to go with low-cost options at center and believes Wendell may have been a backup plan to J.D. Walton. The Giants are also in talks with free agent Kevin Boothe about a possible return.

Stork is short on athleticism, but he’s a smart player that will be given a shot to unseat incumbent starter Ryan Wendell. Coming off a disastrous 2013 campaign and an offseason that saw him garner scant free agent interest, Wendell needs a strong camp to prove 2013 was just a blip on an otherwise solid career.

Wendell, 28, appeared to be one of the NFL’s up-and-coming pivots in 2012, but his performance slipped dramatically last season, and his free agent market was all but barren. Wendell should only be penciled lightly into New England’s starting lineup, depending on what happens in May’s draft. At this moment, we’d project the Pats’ first-team line as LT Nate Solder, LG Logan Mankins, C Wendell, RG Dan Connolly, and RT Sebastian Vollmer. G/T Marcus Cannon would be first off the bench.

Wendell, 28, has started every game the past two seasons for the Patriots. After grading out as Pro Football Focus’ top run-blocking center in 2012, Wendell fell all the way to No. 33 overall last season. He tends to get pushed around as a pass blocker but is a smart player. If the Patriots don’t re-sign him, Dan Connolly may shift from guard to center in 2014.