New England Patriots center David Andrews likely will miss Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders after undergoing right thumb surgery on his snapping hand, according to multiple reports.

The Patriots might place Andrews on injured reserve. That maneuver would require the 28-year-old to miss at least three games.

Andrews injured the thumb during Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He was seen on the Patriots practice field this week by reporters with a wrap on his right hand.

Andrews, a team captain, started the first two games this season after missing the entire 2019 season due to blood clots in his lungs. He has started 59 of 62 games played since entering the league with New England in 2015.

“He’s the piece that holds it all together as the center,” starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn said earlier this week. “With all his knowledge, he’s very reliable. When we don’t know something, he knows the answer to it. Just him being the key piece has been helpful and great.”

Second-year pro Hjalte Froholdt could be elevated to starting center. Froholdt, 24, has played nine special teams snaps this season but hasn’t seen any action on the offensive line since being New England’s fourth-round selection in 2019.

“He’s been able to be out on the field every day and work hard and continue to get better since we’ve had the opportunity to begin practicing,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said of Froholdt on Friday. “He’s still a young player that has a lot of room to grow and works very hard at it.”

Another option is promoting James Ferentz from the practice squad. Ferentz, 31, has played in 38 NFL games, including two starts last season — one at guard, one at center — for New England. He saw action in 21 games with the Denver Broncos in 2015-16 and 17 with the Patriots in 2018-19.

–Field Level Media