The New England Patriots announced that they have placed veteran offensive lineman Greg Van Roten on injured reserve and released linebacker Riley Wilson from the practice squad.
Van Roten had been dealing with a thigh injury following the Patriots‘ blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. His designation further depletes the team’s depth at the right guard position to begin the season.
Van Roten had recently been named the Patriots’ starter after Mike Onwenu was placed on IR himself with a broken right ankle. The veteran lineman Van Roten stepped into the lineup to provide stability and experience in Week 3, but the Patriots lost to the Jaguars by a score of 35-6. His absence now leaves New England searching for another answer at a position already affected by injuries.
Before landing on injured reserve, Van Roten had not allowed a single sack or quarterback hit and only gave up two pressures on the season.
The Patriots will now evaluate Ben Brown and Walter Rouse as potential replacements. Rouse filled in after Van Roten exited the lineup, while Brown offers experience on the interior. New England may also explore different lineup combinations as it prepares for its next game.
With both Onwenu and Van Roten unavailable, the Patriots’ ability to protect Drake Maye amid his early-season struggles and establish the run will depend heavily on how quickly their reserve linemen step up in their stead.
Wilson signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent prior to the start of the season. He did not play in a game for the Patriots this season prior to being released.
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