The New England Patriots wasted zero time shoring up their interior offensive line after a rough preseason opener saw both their top backups go down. Coming out of a 13-13 tie with the Indianapolis Colts, the team quickly signed Darrian Dalcourt and Joseph Michalski, but the big move this week was bringing in 12-year veteran Greg Van Roten to really solidify the group. He made his practice debut on Wednesday, and head coach Mike Vrabel is already buzzing about what the guy brings to the locker room.
Why Van Roten Is Exactly What New England Needs Right Now
Look, when you’ve got injuries piling up, you don’t just grab anyone off the street. Head coach Mike Vrabel practically sang Van Roten’s praises, highlighting his insane durability and wide-ranging experience. “He started every game for three years. He’s played interior offensive line,” Vrabel said, pointing to the 36-year-old’s consistent play. And honestly, who wouldn’t want that kind of reliability stepping onto your line? After that 13-13 tie with the Colts, it was crystal clear the Patriots needed to “strengthen that” area immediately. Van Roten is the exact guy for the job, sliding in to shore things up. Instead of relying on a backup trio of James Hudson, Jacob Rizy, and Mehki Butler, New England now has Van Roten as their projected top guy on the interior line. It’s a massive upgrade in terms of immediate stability.
This dude is a total football lifer, first hitting the league as an undrafted rookie with the Packers way back in 2012. He’s worn the uniform for what is now nine different NFL teams since then, accumulating an impressive 148 games played with 105 starts under his belt. That’s a ton of snaps and a mountain of experience! The man can play anywhere, too, having seen extensive action at both guard spots and at center throughout his career. Plus, his durability is no joke, clocking 3,300 snaps over 51 starts in the last three years alone. When you’ve got Ben Brown expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks and Andrew Rupcich already on injured reserve, a proven, versatile player like Van Roten isn’t just a signing, he’s an absolute lifeline.
A Proven Player Who Knows the System
What’s even wilder is how perfectly Van Roten fits into what the Patriots are trying to do. Vrabel didn’t just mention his experience, he specifically called out Van Roten’s familiarity with their system. The veteran spent a year with Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas and two more with former New England assistant Brian Daboll in New York. That’s huge for immediate impact! “A proven player and somebody that I think has got experience in what we do, and the terminology from Josh a few years ago and then [Daboll] the last couple of years,” Vrabel explained. That means less time learning a new playbook and more time actually contributing from day one. When you’re trying to patch up your O-line mid-season, that kind of plug-and-play experience is truly invaluable. Vrabel summed it up, saying, “So, somebody that we felt like could help us.”
The Patriots are clearly leaning on Van Roten to step up big, especially with their current injury woes. He’s the oldest player on their roster at 36, but clearly, age is just a number when you bring this kind of versatility, durability, and system knowledge to the table. Keep an eye on how quickly this veteran makes an impact as the season rolls on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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