The New England Patriots are heading to Germany with a broken offensive line. Ben Brown, the starting left guard, will not play against the Detroit Lions this Sunday. Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed the news on Monday from the Gillette Stadium podium. “He won’t make it this week,” Vrabel told reporters, according to Pats Pulpit. This injury marks the latest blow to a unit that has been decimated by knee issues all season.
Shuffling the Front Five
Walter Rouse is expected to start in Brown’s place against the Lions. The Patriots have lost three starting guards already this year. Mike Onwenu went down in Week 2 with an Achilles fracture. His backup, Greg Van Roten, suffered a thigh injury just one week later. In Week 6 versus the New York Jets, Brown assumed control but immediately suffered an injury. Now the team looks at starting Rouse and Matt Pryor together. Vrabel said the team might activate Van Roten from injured reserve. “That’s something that we’ll look at,” Vrabel said. “He’s eligible and has been working hard to get back. So, we’ll take a look at that and see where he is tomorrow or Wednesday when we practice.”
More Bad News on the Backfield
The offensive line isn’t the only unit in trouble. During Sunday’s defeat against the Green Bay Packers, running back Rhamondre Stevenson departed due to a knee injury. He exited late in the third quarter after taking a hit on a catch. Vrabel had no clear answer on his status Monday. Boston Herald reporter Doug Kyed stated that “We’re wearing out the MRIs this morning,” Vrabel said, according to Heavy.com. The team still has no update on Stevenson’s condition. This leaves the running game in limbo just before a trip to Munich.
Wide receiver A.J. Brown might still travel with the squad. Vrabel noted that the plan is for the veteran to go to Germany on Wednesday. “I mean I think that that’s the plan,” Vrabel said, according to Yahoo Sports. But the focus remains on the injured men who cannot play. Alijah Vera‑Tucker and Mike Onwenu were the Patriots’ starting guards at the start of the 2026 regular season, but that lineup is now gone. The team faces the Lions on Sunday, November 15, at 9:30 a.m. ET at FC Bayern Munich Stadium.
