The team captain will miss the remainder of the 2024 season because of a shoulder injury.
After a shoulder injury knocked him out of the New England Patriots’ Week 4 game against the San Francisco 49ers, David Andrews had a decision to make: try to play through the injury but risk making it worse, or undergo season-ending shoulder.
The Patriots’ starting center decided to go the second route. But while his 2024 season is now over as a consequence, the 32-year-old is hopeful about a full recovery and the chance to return to the team in 2025.
As Andrews mentioned on the latest episode of his Quick Snap podcast, that aspect was a driving motivator behind opting for surgery.
“I feel like I’m making a good decision. I’m making the best decision for myself and more importantly, which went into it a lot, my football career,” he told co-host and former teammate Brian Hoyer.
Before his injury against San Francisco, Andrews had played 1,607 straight snaps. However, continuing the streak that started in November 2022 was no option given the extent of his injury: as Andrews explained, he had suffered a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
“It’s the same shoulder I had surgery on after the ‘21 season,” he said. “In ‘21 I did both labrums, the same rotator cuff that I just did, and my bicep. In ‘21 I ripped the rotator cuff off the bone. Now, I’ve torn it in the meat of it. So, what they’re trying to do is — now, this is someone who didn’t graduate college try to explain — they’re going to try to put a sheath over this and hopefully the muscles regrow.
“It’s not a 100 percent, but it gives me the best shot to continue my football career. That’s all I can ask for.”
Andrews said that he contacted former the Patriots’ former team physician, Dr. Matt Provencher, to get his opinion on how to proceed. The medical advice given to him by Dr. Provencher and other professionals made it clear that surgery was the sensible option with an eye on the 2025 season.
Nonetheless, Andrews still described the situation as “frustrating” and acknowledged the toll it takes on all involved.
“It’s tough. It’s part of this business,” Andrews said. “The game’s been so good to me. I’ve been good to the game, I think. At the end of the day it does take a lot from you, and it takes a lot from your family, friends.
“There’s been a lot of times where I can say I’ve not been the best friend, son, husband, dad, whatever, and missed out funerals, whatever. You do a lot, you try to give your best to this game, and sometimes she wears her nasty hat. This is one of those moments, but like anything else in life — that’s why I love this game — it teaches you so much.”