What placing Greg Van Roten on injured reserve means for the Patriots

Let's assess what the move means for the Patriots and their offensive line.

The Patriots entered the 2026 regular season with the ever-reliable Mike Onwenu as their starting right guard, but he suffered a broken ankle during the team's Week 2 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers . This bumped Van Roten — a training camp signing — into the top spot between center Jared Wilson and right tackle Morgan Moses .

Van Roten, who had played every single offensive snap for the New York Giants in 2024 and 2025, lasted only 64 snaps as Onwenu's replacement. This forced the Patriots to move third-stringer Walter Rouse , himself a trade acquisition in late August, into the top lineup versus Jacksonville.