The New England Patriots may have lost offensive guard Mike Onwenu for the remainder of the season on Sunday afternoon. We examine the lasting impact of his injury and how the team may look to replace the reliable long-tenured starter.
The New England Patriots may have beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers on the game field on Sunday afternoon, but in doing so, they suffered a loss with far greater consequences and lasting ramifications.
Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, starting offensive guard Mike Onwenu’s first quarter ankle injury has been confirmed by x-rays to be a broken right ankle. Onwenu’s 2026 season is likely over just as quickly as it began.
Here’s a closer look at the impact Onwenu’s injury may have on New England up-front, and potential solutions for the Patriots this fall:
Ole’ Reliable
Nov 2, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots offensive tackle Mike Onwenu (71) blocks Atlanta Falcons linebacker Jalon Walker (11) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesSince being drafted by New England with the 182nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the 6’3”, 350 lb. mauler developed into the anchor of the Patriots’ offensive line with a high-level of performance and dependability. Onwenu’s power in the run game and consistency as a pass blocker have made him a reliable piece even when there have been question marks at the positions surrounding him. Prior to this major setback, he had rarely missed time.
Since 2020, Onwenu played in 98 of a possible 100 regular games — only missing two starts during the 2023 season — and has been the model for consistency when he has been on the field. Previously named as a PFF101 selection in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and a PFF Second Team All-Pro in 2022, Onwenu graded out as the seventh-best guard in the league in 2025. He received an overall grade of 78.2 (seventh of 81 qualifying guards), a run blocking grade of 74.2 (10th), and earned high marks with a pass blocking grade of 78.2 (fifth).
Onwenu is set to enter the 2026 offseason as an unrestricted free agent, and the $17 million Average Annual Value (AAV) on his current contract puts him at high risk of finding a new home when he’s healthy again. His injury further clouds his future in Foxboro beyond this season.
Plugging the Gap
Sep 20, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots center Ben Brown (77) looks on prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn ImagesAlready a position of need for New England this past spring, the Patriots struck out on many of the avenues they had available to bolster depth along the interior offensive line behind the starters. While it was rumored that New England would have considered drafting a guard as high as the first round in April, their more likely avenue to adding additional talent would have been in the fourth round. They owned two picks in that range entering draft weekend, but traded both away to move up the board and select offensive tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th overall pick and Gabe Jacas with the 55th overall pick.
With Alijah Vera-Tucker and Jared Wilson both having lengthy injury histories, Onwenu was the closest the team had to a “sure thing” among their top ranks. His absence accentuates the need in the short-term, but does not help expedite the solution for the long haul.
As the roster currently stands, the Patriots’ most logical gap-plugger along the interior is training camp addition Greg Van Roten.
Van Roten, 36, is a veteran of 11 years and most recently spent the past two seasons as the starting right guard for the New York Giants. In 2025, Van Roten led all guards in the NFL with 1,151 snaps played during the regular season. He committed just three penalties and allowed three sacks last season, and registered a 65.4 overall grade (35th among 81 guards), 70.2 pass blocking grade (22nd), and a 61.3 run blocking grade, per PFF.
Dating back through his 2023 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, Van Roten started all 51 possible games and took 3,297 offensive snaps. He also saw game action through stops with the Green Bay Packers (2012-13), Carolina Panthers (2017-19), New York Jets (2020-21), and Buffalo Bills (2022).
On 40 blocking snaps in relief of Onwenu at right guard against Pittsburgh, Van Roten allowed two quarterback pressures — one of which resulted in Drake Maye’s third quarter interception — and posted a pass blocking efficiency grade of 95.0%. His offensive grades, per PFF, were not as inspiring; he registered an overall grade of 25.9, a run blocking grade of 27.1, and a pass blocking grade of 39.5 in his first extended live action with the team.
Last season’s super-substitute Ben Brown could factor in as a spot-starter. Brown was the team’s top backup option at each of the three interior positions in 2025, and is once again healthy after an injury in the preseason opener sidelined him until this past week. He’s been relegated back to center since the signing of Van Roten, but still offers some flexibility in a pinch.
Elsewhere on the 53-man roster, New England has previously expressed interest in cross-training Lomu at guard to fill-in when needed. That was early in the offseason, however, and the organization has since limited him to playing tackle through the preseason.
Former Minnesota Vikings’ offensive tackle and cutdown day acquisition Walter Rouse shows more potential as a guard; He played in seven total games in 2025 and appeared on offense in four contests. On 88 blocking snaps, Rouse aligned as a right tackle on 75 snaps and a left tackle on 13 snaps. He surrendered one sack and allowed six total pressures on 62 pass blocking snaps. In the 2026 preseason, Rouse played 109 snaps — 77 at right guard and 32 at left guard — and allowed just one pressure.
Looking Ahead
Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots offensive tackle Mike Onwenu (71) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesEntering Week 3 of the regular season, the Patriots may be limited to their in-house options to fill the hole left by Onwenu’s injury in the short-term. As the offseason showed, starting-caliber offensive linemen are hard to come by and difficult to part ways with once they’re in the building. New England will have to make do with what they have on the roster, but will almost certainly look to attack the position more aggressively come the spring. That simply won’t help them on the field this fall, as an already unsettling position of need was thrust into the spotlight for the remainder of the 2026 season.
How do you think the Patriots’ offensive line will navigate the remainder of the season without Mike Onwenu? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.
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