The New England Patriots haven't officially closed the door on veteran right guard Mike Onwenu returning from the gruesome ankle injury he suffered in last week's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Onwenu was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday, meaning that he will miss at least the next four games of the season. However, given the nature of the injury, ESPN's Adam Schefter isn't so sure that the veteran standout will be returning anytime soon this season, if at all.
“I’d be surprised [if he returned]. If they could have a deep run, that certainly enhances the chances. The way that I heard is—I think the regular season seems like that’s a realistic goal for him to miss. If he could come back any sooner, great, but I don’t know if they should
be counting on that," Schefter said on WEEI's Rich & Ken with Ted Johnson.
With Onwenu sidelined, the Patriots will have to turn to Greg Van Roten, Ben Brown and Walter Rouse to help fill the void.
Onwenu was arguably the best offensive lineman on the team and one of the top guards in the league. So it will be no easy task to fill his shoes. Van Roten has the clear edge as the new starter with 105 NFL starts already under his belt. He's a highly experienced veteran with time in the trenches across multiple teams.
The timing of the injury is an even tougher blow for Onwenu, who is currently playing in the final year of his contract. It could potentially put him in a more uncertain situation in 2027 free agency.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Latest update on Patriots OL Mike Onwenu, following IR move
