The New England Patriots just dropped a bombshell, signing free agent offensive linemen Darrian Dalcourt and Joe Michalski right after their preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Why the scramble? Injuries are absolutely hammering their interior offensive line, forcing some serious emergency moves.
The O-Line Is a Total Nightmare
The Patriots’ interior offensive line was already looking thin, but that Colts game delivered a knockout blow to their depth. Ben Brown, who was projected as their nominal No. 4, is now going to miss multiple weeks after leaving the game in the first quarter. And it gets worse: Andrew Rupcich, the projected No. 5, got placed on season-ending injured reserve. Ouch. The starting trio of Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson, and Mike Onwenu looks good on paper, and Brown is a proven, versatile backup. But with Brown out for at least the rest of the preseason and Rupcich gone for the year, the rest of the interior O-line is a giant question mark. New England needs someone to step up fast and challenge for that fifth spot, and right now, James Hudson and Mehki Butler are the best bets.
Throwing Everything At The Wall To See What Sticks
So, who are these two new guys, Dalcourt and Michalski? Dalcourt entered the NFL as a rookie free agent in 2024 and has bounced around four different teams, including Baltimore, Washington, Carolina, and Cleveland, before landing in Foxborough. Michalski went undrafted last year and spent a season on Denver’s practice squad. Here’s the kicker for both: neither has ever played in a non-preseason game at the professional level. They’ve got decent size, sure, but their careers so far scream that you probably shouldn’t trust them to suddenly become top backup options. This feels like the ultimate “throw it at the wall and see what sticks” move from the Patriots.
The Caleb Lomu Wildcard
Don’t forget about Caleb Lomu, the offensive tackle the Patriots grabbed in the first round of this year’s draft. Executive vice president Eliot Wolf was raving about Lomu’s flexibility, even suggesting he could play inside. And guess what? He’s actually done it in practice, even if it’s only been for a handful of reps. With the interior line in such disarray, the team has to be hoping Lomu can fast-track his versatility and become a more immediate factor there. What happens next for this O-line is anyone’s guess, but they’ve got to sort this out before the regular season kicks off.
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