Patriots OL Crisis: Greg Van Roten Joins Mike Onwenu on IR

As the calendar flips to late September 2026, the New England Patriots find themselves navigating a treacherous stretch of the NFL season. Just one week after losing starting right guard Mike Onwenu to a broken ankle, the team received another devastating blow: his replacement, Greg Van Roten, has been placed on injured reserve due to a thigh injury sustained in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. According to the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk, Van Roten will miss at least the next four games, leaving the Patriots’ offensive line in a state of emergency.

Right Guard Carousel Continues

The Patriots entered the 2026 campaign with Onwenu anchoring the right side, a model of reliability. But his Week 2 injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers forced Van Roten—a training camp signing—into the starting lineup between center Jared Wilson and right tackle Morgan Moses. Van Roten, who had played every offensive snap for the New York Giants in 2024 and 2025, lasted only 64 snaps before succumbing to his own injury. That thrust third-stringer Walter Rouse, a late-August trade acquisition, into action against Jacksonville. The results were predictable: Rouse, who had never taken a regular-season snap at right guard, struggled mightily. Now, with Van Roten sidelined, the Patriots may have no choice but to rely on him again in Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills.

Replacement Options Thin

Between the 53-man roster and practice squad, New England has six interior offensive linemen available. The active roster features left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, center Jared Wilson, and guards Ben Brown and Walter Rouse. The practice squad offers Jake Kubas and Xavier Newman-Johnson. The team could theoretically use rookie first-round pick Caleb Lomu inside, but his primary focus has been offensive tackle, and with right tackle Morgan Moses nursing an injury, moving Lomu inside seems unlikely unless absolutely necessary. Realistically, the choice for Van Roten’s spot comes down to Brown or Rouse. While Rouse filled in against the Jaguars, Brown—who missed time earlier this year with an ankle injury—started the summer as the No. 4 interior lineman and has more experience in the system. As highlighted on Vulius, Brown’s familiarity could give him the edge against Buffalo.

Roster Spots Remain Open

The Patriots have not announced corresponding moves to fill Van Roten’s roster spot, leaving them with only 51 players on the active roster. They also have yet to fill the vacancy created when rookie outside linebacker Quintayvious Hutchins was placed on IR last week. However, help could be on the horizon: five players—OT Marcus Bryant, ED Harold Landry, LB Khalil Jacobs, S Brenden Schooler, and P Bryce Baringer—are eligible to return from injured reserve after Week 4. Keeping those spots open and using practice squad promotions for Sunday’s game against the Bills is a calculated risk, but one the team may be forced to take.

Injury Woes Mount

The Patriots were relatively healthy during their 2025 Super Bowl run, but 2026 has been a different story. Including the offseason, they have placed 17 different players on injured reserve, with 11 still on the list. The most notable names include starting receiver A.J. Brown, who is eligible to return in two weeks, and Onwenu. Punter Bryce Baringer can be reactivated after Week 4, while safety Dell Pettus can return after Week 6. As the Vulius Sports team has noted, this rash of injuries is testing the team’s depth in ways they haven’t faced in years.

“Losing not one but two starting right guards in back-to-back weeks is a blow to an offense already running on fumes,” a team source told Vulius. “We’re exploring every option to stabilize the line.”

With the Bills looming, the Patriots must find a way to protect their quarterback and open running lanes. Whether it’s Brown or Rouse, the next man up will need to deliver. For now, the Patriots’ offensive line remains a work in progress, and the margin for error is razor-thin.