The New England Patriots announced a roster change on Sept. 22, 2026: veteran offensive lineman Michael Onwenu was placed on injured reserve after suffering a broken right ankle, with the reporting credited to Tony Camino at NFLTradeRumors.co.
The club made two accompanying moves: promoting punter Mitch Wishnowsky from the practice squad to the 53-man roster and signing tight end Tanner Conner to the practice squad. The source for these transactions is the NFLTradeRumors.co report published Sept. 22, 2026.
Michael Onwenu placed on injured reserve after broken right ankle
The Patriots’ placement of Michael Onwenu on injured reserve was reported by NFLTradeRumors.co (Tony Camino). The club has identified the injury as a broken right ankle; no medical recovery timeline was provided by the team or in the reporting.
Onwenu’s move to injured reserve opens a roster spot and immediately affects offensive-line depth for coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels while the organization evaluates options for game-day lineups.
Three roster moves summarized
What this means for the Patriots’ roster construction
Onwenu’s absence is primarily an offensive-line issue. As a multi-year starter, his placement on injured reserve reduces experienced depth along the line and means the Patriots will need to lean on backup linemen and any swing options the coaching staff keeps active for game-day needs.
The promotion of Mitch Wishnowsky affects special teams: elevating the punter from the practice squad to the 53-man roster secures specialist depth and indicates the team’s priority to have a rostered punter available on game days.
Adding Tanner Conner to the practice squad increases tight end depth for practice and special-teams drills. Practice-squad signings provide immediate help in preparation periods and give the club an option to activate the player later if roster needs arise.
Contract and status context for Onwenu
Michael Onwenu was a sixth-round pick out of Michigan in 2020. Reporting at NFLTradeRumors.co notes he played out the final year of a four-year deal reported at $3.497 million that included a $202,468 signing bonus. The source indicates he is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
These contract figures are reported by NFLTradeRumors.co; they should be cross-checked with official NFL contract records or team disclosures for definitive confirmation. The figures are included here to provide context on Onwenu’s roster status and near-term contract timeline.
What remains unclear
The team confirmed the broken right ankle diagnosis but provided no medical recovery timeline or detailed treatment plan. No return-to-play estimate should be inferred from the available reporting.
Expect follow-up updates from Patriots official releases, weekly injury reports and beat reporting. Any definitive medical timelines or treatment specifics will require confirmation from team medical staff or player representatives.
Source attribution and next steps
This article is sourced to Tony Camino’s reporting at NFLTradeRumors.co — Patriots Place OL Michael Onwenu On IR Among Three Roster Moves (Sept. 22, 2026). Patriots Report will monitor official team updates and provide confirmed developments as they are announced.
Key takeaway: The Patriots placed veteran lineman Michael Onwenu on injured reserve with a broken right ankle, promoted punter Mitch Wishnowsky to the 53-man roster, and signed tight end Tanner Conner to the practice squad. The team has not released a recovery timeline; follow official updates for medical and roster changes.
