The Patriots are running out of time to sort out their left guard spot before Sunday’s game against the Lions in Munich, and the decision may come down to whether Greg Van Roten is ready to be activated.
New England has 52 of its 53 roster spots filled, and Mike Vrabel said before the trip that the team intends to use that final opening. Van Roten is one of the clearest candidates, especially with the offensive line dealing with injuries. He’s working back from a hamstring issue.
“I think we’ll see how Greg comes out of practice today,” Vrabel said Friday. “I know he’s been returned to play. You know, see where Walter (Rouse) is in the protocol and then go from there.”
The Patriots already know they’ll be without Ben Brown, who started at left guard a week ago but has been ruled out and did not travel to Germany. Brown hurt his knee last week against the Green Bay Packers and was not seen at the team’s final practice before the flight.
That leaves Rouse as the next man up, though he has his own issues to work through. Brown’s backup missed Wednesday’s practice and is still moving through the league’s concussion protocol. He was on the field in a red non-contact jersey, but both he and Van Roten have been limited this week.
That puts Van Roten in position to return to play for the first time since Week 4.
“We’ll have to go through practice and kind of see where guys are this afternoon,” Vrabel said about injured players taking part in practice, a group that also includes running back Rhamondre Stevenson and wide receiver A.J. Brown.
The clock is ticking, though. Van Roten has already been designated to return after his stint on injured reserve, and the Patriots have until Nov. 24 to activate him.
If they decide not to use him and instead patch the spot with a short-term answer, they can elevate a practice squad player who traveled to Germany for practices. Andrew Rupcich and Xavier Newman-Johnson are both guard options, and Newman-Johnson has already been elevated once this season, in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears.
As things stand, New England appears set at four spots along the line: Will Campbell at left tackle, Jared Wilson at center, Matt Pryor at right guard and Morgan Moses at right tackle. That leaves left guard as the lone question, and it seems likely to be either Van Roten or Rouse. Given the circumstances, Van Roten’s experience looks like the cleaner choice if he’s able to go.
Fullback Reggie Gilliam was also designated to return from injured reserve this week, so if Van Roten can’t be activated, Gilliam could wind up taking that final roster spot instead.
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Patriots Can't Risk This A.J. Brown Decision Again
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For New England, the temptation to push Brown back into action is obvious. He is the kind of difference-maker that can change the shape of an offense and help keep playoff hopes alive, but the Patriots also know how quickly one injury can turn into another if they rush him before he is ready. After all the time he has already missed, this is the sort of decision that could matter well beyond one game. [Read more 🡒]