The New England Patriots signed offensive lineman Matt Pryor from the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad on Wednesday. We examine what role he’ll play along the interior offensive line in Foxboro.
The New England Patriots continue to work on rectifying their interior offensive line woes.
Injuries have plagued the interior of New England’s offensive line since the onset of the preseason, and regular season action has amplified those concerns. With two right guards placed on injured reserve in each of the last two weeks, the Patriots turned to the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad to add depth and create competition for the starting role.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest addition to New England’s offensive line, Matt Pryor:
Who is Matt Pryor?
Jan 4, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Matt Pryor (79) against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesPryor, 31, has had several stops on his professional journey since being drafted in the sixth-round (No. 206 overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The 6’7”, 332-pounder has seen time at each guard and tackle spot in his career. He first saw regular season reps in the 2019 season with Philadelphia and appeared in 12 games before cracking the starting lineup for 10 games in 2020. He moved on to the Indianapolis Colts in 2021 and started 14 of 33 games played in two seasons before a one-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 (15 games played, no starts).
Pryor’s most productive season was with the Chicago Bears in 2024. He started 15 of 17 regular season games and logged 1,005 snaps — 895 of them at right guard. He allowed 24 pressures, seven sacks, and committed seven penalties with Chicago, but posted a pass-blocking efficiency grade of 97.4% on the season and registered a pass-blocking grade of 78.1, per PFF.
The nine-year veteran returned to the Eagles in 2025 and played in all 17 games with one start before landing on Arizona’s practice squad to begin 2026. He’s played in 109 games in his career, and provides a much-needed veteran presence along the interior.
Pryor’s Role
Aug 10, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Chicago Bears guard Matt Pryor (79) blocks Buffalo Bills defensive end Dawuane Smoot (94) during the first half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY SportsThe state of the Patriots’ interior offensive line has been deteriorating since the beginning of the preseason, and regular season play has added injury to insult.
As a group, New England’s front-line has struggled in pass protection and run blocking, creating instability in both areas. On the ground, the Patriots rank 17th in the NFL in rushing success rate (41.2%), 20th in yards-per-carry (3.86), and have gained 227 yards after contact to just 101 yards before contact. They hold the ninth-highest stuffed run rate in the league at 23.0%, while seeing heavy-box numbers at the 25th-highest rate (20.0%). Through through the air, New England has allowed pressure at the second-highest rate in the NFL (48.1% of dropbacks, per SūmerSports) and sacks at the fourth-highest rate (8.5%), while being blitzed at just the 23rd-highest rate (26.4%).
After losing 2025 super-substitute Ben Brown to injury for a short spell in the preseason opener and top replacement option Andrew Rupcich (released with an injury waiver) on the same night, the Patriots added veteran guard Greg Van Roten via free agency and Walter Rouse in a cutdown day trade with the Minnesota Vikings to bolster depth behind the starters.
Initial concerns were focused on the long-term availability of Alijah Vera-Tucker and Jared Wilson, who both entered 2026 with lengthy injury histories. By Week 2, that script flipped to the right side of New England’s interior, as the reliable Mike Onwenu suffered a broken right ankle and was placed on injured reserve. In Week 3, Van Roten took over, but exited the game in the first half and was placed on injured reserve this week (thigh).
With Onwenu and Van Roten both out of commission, the Patriots turned to Rouse to plug the gap along the interior — and it didn’t go smoothly. Rouse allowed four pressures, three hurries, and a sack in pass protection, and failed to generate any push off the line of scrimmage as a run blocker.
Past performance would have suggested Brown as the top replacement option mid-game, but head coach Mike Vrabel commented that he only saw practice reps at center and left guard through the regular season. Now even thinner at the position, Brown and Rouse will contend for the starting right guard role — and Pryor will immediately become a part of that competition.
Looking Ahead
Nov 3, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Chicago Bears guard Matt Pryor (79) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesAs New England continues to suffer from a lengthy list of injuries to begin the 2026 regular season, no position has felt that impact greater than right guard. Pryor’s addition gives the Patriots their most stable veteran presence in the room while they look to rectify the issues that have hampered efficiency by air and by land in the first month of the fall.
How do you think Matt Pryor will impact the interior of New England’s offensive line? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.
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