New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is going to roll the dice a little bit on Sunday. With the way injuries are piling up this season, you have the right to ask why.
Vrabel has seemingly chosen his backup center Ben Brown to start at right guard, leaving the team without a potential answer on the 53-man roster if by some freakish occurrence Brown and starter Jared Wilson are injured in Buffalo.
Plenty of moving parts on Sunday
“I would probably anticipate Ben Brown starting out there,” said Vrabel. “I think Walter (Rouse) will have to be ready to go. I think that we will see where we are with Matt Pryor coming over from Arizona, whether we feel like he could potentially help us at the game or be available for the game.
“I think that’s something that we still have to decide here as he works into the communication, the system, going on the road, and then if not, we’ll have to look to elevate somebody potentially.”
Next man up… again
Brown, off to a slow start because of training camp injuries, will be the fourth Patriot to play right guard this season.
Starter Mike Onwenu went to injured reserve with an ankle injury. Greg Van Roten stepped in and also went to injured reserve. Rouse got the relief nod last week and was basically ineffective, forcing the move to Brown.
“It’s tough trying to replace a player of that caliber and character,” Brown said of Onwenu. “I want to do whatever I can to contribute, however that might look, and I just want to be ready whenever my number is called upon.
“Physically I feel great. I’m ready to roll. Whatever is asked upon me, I’ll be ready for whatever.”
Mainly a center
Brown has played in 30 games with 14 starts in his four NFL seasons, the past three in New England.
All but his first game, back in 2022 as a Seattle Seahawk, have been at the center spot.
He’s excited about the prospect of competing on the road in Buffalo.
“Everyone loves to be the enemy, so to speak, coming in. That’s always fun because it really just feels like it’s us vs. everyone,” he said.
Emergency plan in place?
One side note to the move of Brown to starting right guard? It’s likely good news for practice squad offensive lineman Xavier Newman-Johnson. The 27-year-old played a little center for Vrabel in Tennessee (2022) and might be considered an emergency option at the spot on Sunday.
