FOXBORO - The Patriots may have some offensive line help on the way this week, and veteran guard Greg Van Roten is right in the middle of it.
Van Roten has missed the last four games while on injured reserve with a thigh injury, but he is now eligible to return to the active roster. Mike Vrabel said Monday the team is at least weighing that possibility ahead of the matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
"Probably won't see him today, but maybe this week, we'll see where that goes" the head coach said prior to practice. "I think him and (safety) Dell (Pettus) are eligible potentially to try and get back out there and kind of see where that goes, but we'll have to make a decision."
The timing matters because the Patriots’ offensive line has been in constant motion all season. After Mike Onwenu broke his ankle in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Van Roten stepped in at right guard. He practiced all week as the starter and then opened against the Jacksonville Jaguars before getting hurt in that game and later landing on IR two days afterward.
Since then, the injuries have kept coming. Alijah Vera-Tucker went down with a hamstring issue, and Ben Brown has been dealing with a knee injury. Against the Chicago Bears last week, New England went with Walter Rouse and Matt Pryor as its starting guards.
Vrabel was asked after that game about the protection and the performance up front.
"I think the protection, I mean, I’m sure it could have been better. We just had some critical penalties," Vrabel said postgame.
"Being able to handle the environment, third-and-short, whatever it may have been, and those are certainly unfortunate. That’s just beating ourselves.
But I think I mean, I’m sure they played okay. I’m sure they played hard.
Just without seeing it though it’s hard to say. But I know they competed."
Pryor, who has played across the offensive line, could remain a factor even if Van Roten is cleared to come back. Vrabel praised the veteran’s work this week and said he has given the offense a sturdy option.
"Matt's done a nice job," Vrabel saaid. "Matt's come in, he's protected well.
I think that he's still getting comfortable, but he's ... tough to get around. He's got heavy hands and he gives us a chance most of the time."
Brown also appears to be a possibility this week, since he suited up for practice while reporters were in the locker room. If Van Roten is activated, the Patriots would then have three weeks to move him onto the 53-man roster or his season would be done.
New England returns to the practice field in two days, giving the team another chance to sort out the guard situation. The Patriots also have one more week to decide on tackle Marcus Bryant, who has been designated to return from injured reserve after an ankle injury.
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