When the Patriots began the second half on Sunday, center Bryan Stork was at right tackle and Cameron Flemming was protecting Brady’s blindside. The latest shuffle came after starting left tackle Sebastian Vollmer had left the game at the end of the second quarter with a head injury. This came after injuries to previous left tackles Nate Solder and Marcus Cannon.
Flemming, who has spent time on the Patriots’ practice squad during the 2015 season, had never played left tackle at any level, from high school to the NFL.
“I didn’t really think of it until everyone was asking,” Flemming said of playing left tackle for the first time in his career. “I was just like, ‘Protect Tom.’ The blindside, the right side—it didn’t really register to me. I just got to keep the quarterback clean.”
The makeshift offensive line allowed no sacks on Sunday, and Brady finished with 299 yards passing, two touchdowns, and an interception. That turnover came before the injury to Vollmer.