Head coach Mike Vrabel announced the New England Patriots added Andrew Rupcich and Jacob Rizy to their practice squad less than 24 hours after three offensive linemen went down with injury against the New York Jets on Sunday. This isn’t just a minor tweak, folks; it’s a full-blown scramble to shore up the trenches after a brutal game, and it tells you everything about the bind this team is in right now.
Sunday’s O-Line Carnage Was Absolute Chaos
Let’s be real, Sunday’s 26-19 win over the Jets was a wild one, but the cost up front was steep. The Patriots started with Will Campbell and Morgan Moses at tackle, and Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson, and Ben Brown on the interior. Now, Campbell was already dealing with a knee injury from the previous week and was limited in practice leading into the game. Out of that entire starting five, only Campbell and Wilson actually made it through the entire game. Think about that for a second.
Morgan Moses, the other starting tackle, went down in the second half with an ankle injury. Then Alijah Vera-Tucker, an interior guy, had to leave in the second half with a hamstring issue. And just for good measure, Ben Brown hurt his knee in the third quarter and was ruled out too. What a mess! To finish that game, the Patriots had to roll with Caleb Lomu at right tackle, and Walter Rouse and Matt Pryor stepping in for the two injured guards. Vrabel was proud of how those guys finished, saying they put together a “critical drive” where they “were able to run the football, take the time down, take the clock down, and end the drive with some points.” You gotta be proud of the grit, but you also gotta be worried about the talent drop-off.
Emergency Signings: Who Are These Guys and Why Now?
With three starters essentially out of commission, the Patriots clearly had no choice but to hit the phones immediately. Vrabel explained the quick moves: “We’ll add Andrew Rupcich and Rizy. Guys that have been here previously to help us here as we move forward. I would say that we have to stay pretty fluid.” Staying fluid is an understatement when you’re signing guys less than a day after the injuries.
Andrew Rupcich, a 27-year-old in his fifth year, first landed in New England back in September 2025. He spent the rest of that season on their practice squad, got a futures contract after the Super Bowl, and even saw action in one preseason game. But then he was put on injured reserve with a strained MCL and got released in late August with a settlement. Jacob Rizy, 24, joined the team this year as a rookie free agent after playing college ball at Harvard and Florida State. He played center in all three preseason games and was initially added to the practice squad before being let go in mid-September. The fact that they’re bringing back guys who were literally *just* released shows how desperate they are for bodies. And get this: there’s only one practice squad spot open right now, so another move is coming soon. They don’t even have room for both these guys without making another cut!
This is a tough spot for the team, no doubt about it. They’re facing the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football this week, and with the offensive line in such disarray, protecting the quarterback and establishing a run game is going to be a monumental challenge. Let’s see if these new additions can even make an impact that fast.
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.
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