The New England Patriots added depth to their offensive line. On Tuesday, the team activated offensive tackle Marcus Bryant from injured reserve to join the 53-man roster. “OT Marcus Bryant has been activated to the 53-man roster from IR. Patriots had an open spot,” Reiss wrote. This move ends an eight-week wait for the 24-year-old and gives quarterback Drake Maye a much-needed blocker.
Bryant missed the entire regular season so far due to an ankle injury suffered in the preseason. He went down against the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 22 and needed help to leave the field. Once his return window opened on Oct. 14, he was permitted to practice after the team assigned him to injured reserve with a designation to return. He participated fully in practices leading up to the win over Miami on Sunday, Nov. 1, but the team kept him inactive for that game. Now he is ready to play against Green Bay on Sunday, Nov. 8. The 6-foot-7, 320-pound lineman played in 12 games as a rookie in 2025, mostly on special teams. He showed he could handle right tackle duties against teams like the Carolina Panthers and Cincinnati Bengals.
Why This Move Happens Now
Mike Vrabel needed depth, and he got it just in time. The offensive line has been hit hard by injuries all season. Both right tackle Morgan Moses and starting left tackle Will Campbell have experienced issues. In October, Guard Alijah Vera-Tucker was placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring problem. First-round rookie Caleb Lomu has seen time at tackle, and veteran backup Bryant is also on the depth chart. According to the Boston Herald, Bryant was viewed as the primary backup to Campbell before his injury.
The Roster Shuffle Behind the Scenes
Getting Bryant in meant someone had to go. Kindle Vildor was cut from the 53-man roster by the Patriots to create space. Vildor had been on the practice squad earlier this year and was promoted after serving as a standard elevation. He played in five games this fall and recorded seven tackles. Offensive lineman Jake Kubas and wide receiver Cameron Dorner were also released from the practice squad by the team. Elias Neal was signed to the practice squad to replace K.J. Britt, who joined the Lions.
The team went 5-3 to start the season, but they cannot afford to let their quarterback get hit. Bryant is 24 and has the college experience to step in immediately. He made 42 starts at SMU and Missouri before being drafted. His 21-day practice window expires today, Nov. 4. If he had not been activated by now, he would have been lost for the rest of the season. Bryant is back, and the offensive line looks stronger for the matchup in Foxborough.
