New England Patriots Face Injury Challenges and Sign Veteran Guard Greg Van Roten

The New England Patriots tied with the Indianapolis Colts 13-13 in their preseason opener. This game, played on Thursday, left them with a significant concern. Their interior offensive lineman, Ben Brown, sustained an injury while blocking during a play where quarterback Tommy DeVito got sacked.

Brown required assistance to leave the field. He was first taken to the blue medical tent before moving to the locker room. Mike Vrabel, head coach of the Patriots, announced that Brown would miss a few weeks and possibly a couple of months. He will be out for the remainder of the preseason.

The Patriots acted quickly to address this situation. On Monday, they signed veteran guard Greg Van Roten. The 36-year-old has played in the NFL for over ten years. His career includes stints with teams like the Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Giants. He also spent some time in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts.

Throughout his 11-year career, Van Roten has started in 105 games. In the last three seasons, he started all 17 games each year, alternating between the Giants and Raiders. During 2023, Van Roten played for the Raiders under head coach Josh McDaniels, who is now the Patriots’ offensive coordinator.

Last season, while with the Giants, Van Roten achieved a PFF grade of 65.4, placing him 35th among 81 qualified guards. His pass-blocking grade was 70.2, ranking him 22nd. His total snaps of 1,151 were the highest for any guard in the league.

Van Roten entered free agency this year as a top lineman. Returning to McDaniels, he brings his expertise and adaptability to New England’s offensive line. The Patriots’ management sees him as an asset to their strategic play. His ability to cover both guard positions provides depth and options for a team with Super Bowl goals.