It is clear that loss of control pre-dated significant burn-through. The big question is what caused the loss of control. Telemetry data to date indicates escalating port drag, which to me says there was some mighty disturbed airflow on that side relative to the other. Some even speculate that the port gear cover came off over California.
That would be THIS.
The loss of those sensors points to some kind of symptom and if it was a common mode failure then that would be a big indicator of where the damage occurred. I imagine they are looking at wiring runs in the area of that wheel well. If something there took out the signal conditioner(s) or common cable run for the sensor leads to the trailing edge thermocouples and tire pressure sensors, then the same event could have popped open the wheel well cover. A lot of people will think tire explosion, but what caused that?
If it was a popped open wheel well then I wonder if there is telemetry indicating the state of the well door? Remember there are (or were, on early flights) pyrotechnics that would assure a positive opening of the gear bay doors on landing approach. Could one of those have gone off? Those are supposedly safed until the approach phase but who knows? Surely such an event would have been detected by the crew or shown on telemetry. I am reminded of the mystery hatch cover blast on Liberty Bell 7 after Grissom landed the capsule after his suborbital hop. Everyone said the explosives couldn't have gone off spontaneously but Grisson said they did.