While in the process of trimming their roster to get below the league-mandated 53-man limit in late August, the New England Patriots also swung a pair of trades. They acquired running back Corey Kiner from the Arizona Cardinals, and offensive lineman Walter Rouse from the Minnesota Vikings.
Seven weeks into the season, both have had their opportunities. But while Kiner’s increased relatively gradually, Rouse was thrown in at the deep end. Such is the life of an injury replacement.
However, despite
the fairly abrupt nature of his arrival in Foxborough, the 25-year-old has enjoyed the journey so far.
“It’s been great,” Rouse said at his Gillette Stadium locker this week. “Of course, getting here from the Vikings, it’s been a whirlwind since then. But getting here, getting with my teammates and coaches, learning the playbook, it’s been a great adventure; just learning the process and whatnot.”
A sixth-round draft pick by the Vikings in 2024, Rouse mainly served as a backup offensive tackle during his two years in Minnesota. For good reason: the 6-foot-6, 322-pounder played 3,400 snaps at left tackle during his college career at Oklahoma.
The Vikings, however, quickly started giving him reps both on the outside and inside. Any experience he gained at guard, however, came in a relatively controlled setting either in practice or preseason. The few regular season snaps he took, meanwhile, all saw him line up at left or right tackle.
That changed after his trade to New England, and in Week 3 of this season. Leading up to their game against the Jaguars, the Patriots specifically prepared Rouse to play right guard in case starter Greg Van Roten — himself an injury replacement for regular RG Mike Onwenu — became unavailable. That happened in the first half, prompting the team to employ its “break glass in case of emergency” option.
The results were as had to be expected, and the next week Rouse was back on the bench. However, with the injuries continuing, he again was thrust in the spotlight in Week 6 versus the Jets; Rouse was brought on at left guard after both starter Alijah Vera-Tucker and backup Ben Brown exited the contest.
Four days later versus the Chicago Bears, Rouse got his first career start. It was trial by fire, but also a chance for him to earn some much-needed game reps to aid his development.
“All the way back from when I first got in the game in Jacksonville to last Thursday, I feel a lot better,” he explained. “Just more comfortable at the guard position whether it’s in pass pro or run blocking. I think it’s just continuing to grow and just being more comfortable in that guard spot.”
With Onwenu, Van Roten and Vera-Tucker all on injured reserve, and with Ben Brown only returning to practice this week, there is a chance the Patriots will continue to rely on Rouse and fourth-string right guard Matt Pryor this coming Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Regardless of the team’s eventual plans, however, Rouse’s preparation will look the same.
Staying true to an oft-mentioned mantra at One Patriot Place this fall, he will continue to prepare as if he was a starter.
“That’s the mindset you just need to have going all the way back to the Jets game, a next-man-up mentality,” he said. “That comes from just preparing like a starter and just continuing to do that each and every week no matter what’s going to happen, and of course again this week — preparing like I’m a starter and just be ready for anything that happens.”
