The Patriots officially placed offensive lineman Greg Van Roten on injured reserve, a move announced Tuesday that deepens the issues for their already thin offensive line. It’s a tough break early in the season for a team that’s clearly scrambling for answers up front.
More Holes on an Already Shaky Line
Seriously, what is going on with that offensive line over in New England? Greg Van Roten, who was holding down the right guard spot, just hit injured reserve. And remember, Mike Onwenu was already on IR, so this is getting rough. Van Roten only made it to the second quarter of Sunday’s game before a thigh injury knocked him out, forcing Walter Rouse to step in. You gotta wonder how much more this unit can take with starters dropping like flies.
A Journeyman’s Path, Even a Stop in Emerald City
Van Roten has been a true journeyman in this league, playing for the Packers, Panthers, Jets, Bills, Raiders, and Giants over his career. And get this, he even had some short offseason stints, including one with our own Seattle Seahawks way back in 2014, and another with the Jaguars. He spent a couple of seasons in the CFL too. He’s 36 years old and only signed with the Patriots on August 18, but he’d already appeared in all three games this season before this latest setback.
With Van Roten now on the sidelines and Mike Onwenu already there, New England’s offensive line situation is looking grim. They also cut rookie linebacker Riley Wilson from the practice squad, showing they’re already tweaking the roster just a few weeks into the season. The Patriots have some serious holes to fill, and they better find those answers fast if they want to protect their quarterback and get their run game going.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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