The New England Patriots just beefed up their interior offensive line, bringing in Darrian Dalcourt and Joe Michalski on Saturday. This was no surprise to anyone paying attention, as head coach Mike Vrabel had already signaled moves were coming before the 15th practice of training camp in Foxborough. He even told reporters, “Yep, I think we’re going to sign two guys this morning, and we’ll get those names out to you or jersey numbers or whatever, but hopefully they’ll be out there. But they just showed up this morning.” Talk about moving fast to address a problem!
The Injury Blitz That Forced Vrabel’s Hand
Why the urgency? Well, the trenches took a serious hit during Thursday night’s 13-13 tie against the Indianapolis Colts. Proven interior backup Ben Brown got just 18 snaps into his start at center before he had to exit the game. Then, in the final quarter at Gillette Stadium, Andrew Rupcich, who was contending for a spot and had drawn the start at left guard, logged 58 snaps before limping off the sideline. You lose two guys like that in one preseason opener, and you know a team needs to restock. That’s exactly what happened here, with these injuries forcing the Patriots’ hand right in the middle of their O-line plans.
Meet the New Faces in New England’s Trenches
So, who are these guys stepping in? First up is Darrian Dalcourt, a 25-year-old who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama back in 2024. This former national champion started 19 of his 39 games at both center and guard for the Crimson Tide. He’s been a journeyman on practice squads since, bouncing between the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, and Cleveland Browns. At 6-foot-3 and a hefty 320 pounds, he brings some serious size. Then there’s Joe Michalski, also 25, who went undrafted out of Oklahoma State in 2025. This guy was a beast for the Cowboys, starting 35 of his 59 games, serving as a two-time team captain, earning two-time All-Big 12 honorable mention, and a five-time Academic All-Big 12 selection. He spent his rookie regular season with the Denver Broncos practice squad and was released in January as the playoffs kicked off. He stands at 6-foot-5, 305 pounds. Both young, both hungry for a shot.
Roster Moves and What It Means
To make room on the 91-man roster, the Patriots had to make some tough calls. Andrew Rupcich, unfortunately, landed on season-ending injured reserve. The 27-year-old joined New England’s practice squad in 2025, re-upping on a futures contract in February. He’s a versatile guy at 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, offering depth at both guard and center, and started his NFL journey with the Tennessee Titans in 2022. The team also waived long snapper Niko Lalos, 28, who had stepped in for the August opener. Lalos, a 6-foot-5, 269-pound convert from defensive end, had returned just last week to handle 12 preseason snaps. These are never easy moves, but when injuries hit the way they did, bringing in fresh talent like Dalcourt and Michalski is a necessity. The Patriots need these guys to step up fast as they build out their depth for the grind ahead.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
Leave a Reply