NFLSep 30
Patriots lose Greg Van Roten to injured reserve as line injuries mount
New England faces another change at right guard after Van Roten’s thigh injury, with unbeaten Buffalo next on the schedule.
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Injury total surpasses last season
The Patriots put veteran guard Greg Van Roten on injured reserve Tuesday, further thinning the protection available to quarterback Drake Maye. Van Roten suffered a thigh injury during the second quarter of Sunday’s lopsided loss to Jacksonville. He had been starting for Mike Onwenu, whose broken ankle had already forced New England to adjust at right guard. The move brings the Patriots’ total of players placed on injured reserve or released through injury settlements this season to 17. New England placed 16 players on injured reserve throughout last season, when better health helped support its run to Super Bowl LX. The current injured reserve group also includes receiver A.J. Brown, tight end Julian Hill, safety Dell Pettus, offensive tackle Marcus Bryant and punter Bryce Baringer.
Protection questions before Buffalo
Coach Mike Vrabel indicated Monday that backup center Ben Brown would likely get practice repetitions at right guard this week. Walter Rouse replaced Van Roten against Jacksonville after joining the Patriots from Minnesota on Aug. 30. The latest reshuffle follows a difficult outing for Maye, who threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Jacksonville pressured him on 47% of his dropbacks, his highest rate this season. He finished 4-of-9 with an interception under pressure. Maye has completed 41% of his passes when pressured this season, without a touchdown and with three interceptions, underscoring the importance of stabilizing the line. Van Roten, 36, joined New England on a one-year, $3 million deal. The Patriots now take a 1-2 record into Sunday’s road matchup with the 3-0 Buffalo Bills.
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