The New England Patriots are running out of bodies on the right side of the offensive line. It is getting ugly. Just three games into the season, the team is already looking at its third different starter at right guard. This isn’t just a small bump in the road; it is a full-blown depth crisis that could wreck the season before it even gets moving.
A string of bad luck
The nightmare started when Mike Onwenu broke his ankle during the Week 2 win against Pittsburgh. According to Yahoo Sports, the team had to find an immediate fix for that spot. They brought in veteran Greg Van Roten to help, but his time in New England was short. The team placed the 36-year-old on injured reserve on Tuesday, per Boston.com, after he suffered a thigh injury during the loss to Jacksonville.
Van Roten had plenty of experience with 106 NFL starts under his belt. However, the Patriots cannot rely on his past success right now. He is out. Now, the coaching staff has to scramble again before Sunday’s divisional matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The lack of depth is reaching a breaking point.
The search for a solution
Coach Mike Vrabel isn’t planning any massive roster overhauls, but he is evaluating the talent he has. Per Pats Pulpit, Vrabel said, “Walter [Rouse] and Ben [Brown] will work in there today and tomorrow, and we’ll kind of see where that goes for the week.” It is a trial by fire for the young guys.
Walter Rouse, a 2024 sixth-round pick, had a rough outing in Jacksonville. He played 41 offensive snaps in that 35-6 loss. The stats were not great. He posted a 38.3 pass blocking grade, according to reports. The coaching staff is looking at Ben Brown as a potential answer. Coach Vrabel noted, “It’s good to have Ben (Brown) back healthy. I’m sure he will help us; he’ll probably have to help us this week.”
No easy fixes in sight
The problems do not stop at right guard. The injury list is getting long. Along with Onwenu and Van Roten, players like A.J. Brown and Khalil Jacobs are also on injured reserve, according to Boston.com. Even the tackle position is shaky. Morgan Moses dealt with a foot injury in the last game, and his replacement, Caleb Lomu, is also a player to watch.
The Patriots cannot afford to lose more players on the interior. If Brown has to move to guard, the team loses its backup center depth. It is a dangerous game of musical chairs. If the line collapses, the whole offense goes down with it. Expect a gritty, much harder battle in Buffalo.
- Mike Onwenu: Out with a broken ankle.
- Greg Van Roten: Placed on IR with a thigh injury.
- Walter Rouse: 38.3 pass blocking grade in recent game.
- Next Game: Sunday at Buffalo.
