The Patriots’ offensive line took another hit Tuesday when the team placed veteran guard Greg Van Roten on injured reserve.
Van Roten left Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville with a thigh injury after stepping in for Mike Onwenu, who broke his ankle in New England’s win over Pittsburgh the week before. The move strips the Patriots of a lineman who had been a steady presence for years, even if his latest stint with the team was brief.
At 36, Van Roten has carved out a long NFL career since entering the league with the Packers in 2012 as an undrafted free agent out of Penn. He has spent time with the Panthers, Jets, Bills, Raiders and Giants, and also had brief offseason stops with the Seahawks and Jaguars before landing in New England. Over 12 seasons, he has piled up 106 starts, including full 17-game regular seasons in each of the past three years.
He played in all three of the Patriots’ games this season and made his only start Sunday, filling in for Onwenu before the injury ended his day.
With Van Roten out, Walter Rouse stepped in. Rouse, a 2024 sixth-round pick who mainly plays offensive tackle, handled the job after the injury.
There’s more shuffling ahead. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, backup center Ben Brown is expected to get snaps at right guard this week as the Patriots prepare to open divisional play with a road game against Buffalo on Sunday afternoon.
Vrabel has also said at points that the team may consider playing first-round pick Caleb Lomu at guard, though so far Lomu’s snaps have come exclusively at tackle.
The injuries continue to stack up for New England. Along with Onwenu and Van Roten, A.J.
Brown, Marcus Bryant, Khalil Jacobs, and Quintayvious Huntchins are on injured reserve. Harold Landry, who led the team in sacks last year, has yet to play this season.
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