FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots could really use reinforcements at tackle.

Fortunately, help may soon be on the way. Third-rounder Caedan Wallace, who has been on injured reserve since hurting his ankle in late September, should soon return to the practice field.

“He’s close,” Jerod Mayo said on Tuesday morning. “He’s getting closer and closer. Once he’s ready to go, he’ll go out there and hopefully help our football team.”

The rookie appeared in each of New England’s first four games, starting one, and his return is important on a couple of levels. First, it could help an undermanned offensive line, but beyond that, the Patriots would get a better idea of what they have in Wallace before addressing the position (again) in the offseason.

Tackle play has been a major issue in Foxborough this season.

In Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins, Vederian Lowe took four penalties and gave up a strip sack, but stayed in the game, while counterpart Demontrey Jacobs struggled so mightily that he was pulled in favor of Sidy Sow, who had only played eight snaps at tackle in the NFL before that. The depth just isn’t there. On WEEI Monday morning, Mayo was asked if he’d be coaching differently with more pieces to swap in for players making mistakes.

“That’s a fair assessment,” Mayo replied.