FOXBOROUGH – With a cast stretching from her ankle to her mid-thigh, life became uncomfortable for Cole Strange.

After suffering a torn patellar tendon Last season, Strange’s road to recovery was not easy. After surgery, which left him with a vertical scar on his right knee Patriots The offensive lineman was placed in a large cast holding his right leg. Simple things like getting into a car or going to the toilet required help.

Then, when the cast came off, Strange, 26, had to learn to walk again.

“It was crazy,” Strange said. “I felt like a fawn. It was weird as hell. The only thing that goes forward is just doing it. Walking with crutches and then walking without them. Forcing yourself not to limp – not to walk on the right leg. It’s not the same, but it’s about the same as football. It just does.”

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After suffering the injury on December 17, 2023, Strange returned and trained for the first time in 11 months this week. He said the injury brought a new perspective on what football means to him. Although this week was just a small step, Strange is happy to be back playing the sport he loves.

“Man, it’s been way longer than I wanted it to be. Honestly, it was very hard and very aggravating,” Strange said. “I never wanted it to happen, but the reason is it’s given me a really good perspective and I appreciate where I’m at more. I feel very good before. Everything I had to relearn how to do – even walk. squatting, running, jumping. I felt very embarrassed at first. I kept knocking on it. i feel good I’m sure the same thing will happen with the ball.”

Strange practiced for the first time on Wednesday. Right now, it’s limited to positional exercises. In time, he’ll work his way into the Patriots’ offensive line, where he could play guard or center. At this point, Strange doesn’t know when he’ll be able to play in a game, but he thinks he’ll get there soon.

On Thursday, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said the Patriots will determine where Strange will play over the next two weeks. After starting center David Andrews was lost for the season, Strange was approached to play the center position. While rehabbing, he worked with Andrews in Gillette Stadium to prepare to play center.

For Strange, the knee injury was a gut punch. A first-round pick in 2022, Strange started right away for the Patriots at left guard. Last year, however, everything started to come together.

After his injury, Bill Belichick remarked, “I think he’s played his best football in a while.”

“It was very frustrating because I felt the same way,” Strange said. “I felt like for the first time being in the league, I kind of got into the swing of things. My rookie year, I felt like I got better, and at the end of the year, I was playing better. Then last year I was injured all year. But then, at the end, I felt like it clicked. It was extremely aggravating. But it is what it is and here we are.”