The New England Patriots suffered arguably their most consequential injury of the season so far on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Right guard Mike Onwenu, the team’s most consistent offensive linemen, broke his right ankle in the first quarter and has since been placed on injured reserve.
The fracture is expected to keep Onwenu out for a majority of 2026 if not through the entire season. For the team, this means finding a replacement ASAP.
Versus Pittsburgh, that replacement was Greg Van Roten;
the training camp pickup played the final 40 snaps of the 20-3 victory lined up between center Jared Wilson and right tackle Mike Onwenu. Head coach Mike Vrabel later said that he believed Van Roten “had a few plays that he’d like to have back” but that he also “had some positive plays.”
With the sights now set on the upcoming matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Vrabel gave an update on the state of the position and Van Roten’s likely role as the long-term Onwenu stand-in.
“He’s played a bunch of games. Started three years in a row. He’s a smart player, good size, and I think, crafty,” Vrabel said about the 36-year-old.
“When you can stick around that long at that position, I think there’s durability and some craftiness. I mean, you’re not 26. You have to use some tricks of the trade, like that old [Eddie] Harris from Major League. He didn’t throw the fastball too well anymore, so he had some tricks of the trade. I think he understands what is going on offensively. He understands the details of the play, so we will get him working there with Morgan [Moses].”
Van Roten entered the league as a rookie free agent with the Packers in 2012, and has since played for nine NFL franchises plus one CFL team. Including both stints in the professional leagues, he has played 185 contests —150 of them south of the border, 35 north of it — including 51 straight starts between 2023 and 2025.
Chances are he will add more starts this season, given that he was the first player up against the Steelers as well. That said, the Patriots are making sure to do their due diligence, which includes also giving fellow backup O-linemen Ben Brown and Walter Rouse their opportunities.
“Walter will get some opportunities to go there and practice,” said Vrabel. “Walter Rouse is a player we got from Minnesota who has been working really hard, and we will see how he does. Ben Brown is back and working. So, we’ll get a bunch of guys in there the next couple days and try to make a decision.”
Whatever that decision will be, the team is confident that it will not end up derailing the offensive operation.
“As much as we need Mike and all that stuff, it’s Week 3. We can’t just fold,” said left tackle Will Campbell. “We have a lot of faith and trust in the guys in the room for a reason. So, just excited for someone to step around and fill that role.”
