The New England Patriots could get several players back at practice as they manage offensive-line injuries ahead of their road game against Miami, Boston.com reported on Oct. 26. Guard Greg Van Roten and safety Dell Pettus are eligible to potentially return from injured reserve and practice later in the week.
Potential practice participation is not confirmation that either player will be available for the game. Coach Mike Vrabel also said injured guard Ben Brown might practice, while starting left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
The update comes after New England played without two starting guards in its loss to the Chicago Bears. Mike Onwenu is out with a broken ankle, and Brown, who had replaced Onwenu at right guard, missed the game after hurting his knee against the New York Jets in Week 6, Boston.com reported.
Patriots offensive line could get help at practice
Vrabel said Van Roten and Pettus could potentially begin practicing later in the week after becoming eligible to return from injured reserve. Asked about Van Roten, Vrabel said, “We probably won’t see him today, but maybe this week.”
Vrabel described both players as eligible to try to get back on the field, while stressing that the team would assess how they progress. The potential to practice is a step in the return process; it does not establish game availability.
The Patriots were also weighing a roster decision involving defensive back Marcus Bryant. Boston.com reported that New England designated Bryant to return from injured reserve the previous week, and Vrabel said the team would use the day to assess how players were progressing before making a decision.
Alijah Vera-Tucker’s injury outlook and Ben Brown’s status
New England placed Vera-Tucker on injured reserve with a hamstring injury last week, according to Boston.com. Vrabel said he did not think the injury would sideline the guard for the rest of the season, but he could not give a short-term recovery timeline.
“I don’t think it’s for the season, but I couldn’t tell you what short-term is determined by, however many weeks he has to be out,” Vrabel said. He added that Vera-Tucker would not have played that week and that the team expected him to miss at least four games, leading to the injured-reserve decision.
The placement marks another significant injury interruption for Vera-Tucker. Boston.com reported that the former first-round pick had landed on injured reserve for the fourth time in six NFL seasons and played in 43 of 85 possible regular-season games with the Jets from 2021 through 2025. He missed all of last season with a triceps injury.
Brown’s situation is separate from Vera-Tucker’s. Brown missed the Bears game after a knee injury against the Jets, and Vrabel said the veteran guard might practice later in the week. That possibility does not establish that Brown will be cleared for the Miami game.
Patriots’ guard options for the Miami road game
With Vera-Tucker on injured reserve and Onwenu out with a broken ankle, the Patriots have been managing multiple absences at guard. Brown had stepped in for Onwenu at right guard before his own knee injury, leaving New England to consider other options for the interior line.
Boston.com reported that backup guards Walter Rouse and Matt Pryor could be options for Sunday’s road game against Miami. Vrabel praised Pryor’s adjustment after joining the team, saying, “Matt’s done a nice job. Matt’s come in, he’s protected well.”
Vrabel said Pryor was still getting comfortable but had brought size, toughness and a willingness to learn. The available guard options for Miami will depend on how the players progress through the week, with Van Roten and Brown potential practice participants and Rouse and Pryor among the reported alternatives.
