For a second straight week, the New England Patriots had to find a new starting right guard. It looks like they have found one.
Ben Brown, who spent last week’s game in Jacksonville as backup left guard and center, is slated to take over the position on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said so during a press conference at Gillette Stadium on Friday.
“I would probably anticipate Ben Brown starting out there,” Vrabel said.
Brown, who spoke about his readiness should he
be called upon earlier this week, will become the Patriots’ third different starting right guard in just four games this week. The position was originally occupied by Mike Onwenu, the team’s longest-tenured player, before a broken ankle forced him out of New England’s Week 2 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Veteran training camp pickup Greg Van Roten entered the lineup in Onwenu’s place, but was himself hurt the previous game versus the Jaguars. Both of them have since been placed on injured reserve, creating a vacancy at the position.
Walter Rouse was the first man up to fill it last week, but the late-August trade acquisition via Minnesota struggled in his regular season debut with the team. As a consequence, the team held an open competition during practice leading up to the Bills game, featuring Brown, Rouse and recent signing Matt Pryor.
And while the 28-year-old Brown will be the right guard in Buffalo, the other two could also factor into the mix at some point.
“I think Walter will have to be ready to go,” said Mike Vrabel. “I think that we will see where we are with Matt Pryor coming over from Arizona, whether we feel like he could potentially help us at the game or be available for the game. I think that’s something that we still have to decide here as he works into the communication, the system, going on the road, and then if not, we’ll have to look to elevate somebody potentially.”
The Patriots’ Week 4 game against the Bills is set for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday.
