The New England Patriots concluded their preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts in a 13-13 tie. A major setback occurred when interior offensive lineman Ben Brown sustained an injury. Brown was hurt during a play where quarterback Tommy DeVito was sacked. Help was needed for Brown to leave the field, and he headed to the medical tent before moving to the locker room. Head coach Mike Vrabel mentioned Brown would be unavailable for “a few weeks,” possibly extending to a few months, sidelining him for the remainder of the preseason.
On Monday, the Patriots filled the gap by signing veteran guard Greg Van Roten. This 36-year-old lineman boasts more than a decade of NFL experience. He has been part of teams like the Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Giants. Van Roten also had a brief period in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts.
Throughout his 11-year NFL career, Van Roten has started 105 games and played every game in the last three seasons for the Giants and Raiders. His 2023 season with the Raiders was under the leadership of head coach Josh McDaniels, who is currently the Patriots’ offensive coordinator. In his recent season with the Giants, Van Roten achieved a PFF grade of 65.4, placing him 35th among 81 qualifying guards. His pass-block grade stood at 70.2, ranking 22nd. His 1,151 snaps in the season were more than any other guard in the league.
As a top free agent, Van Roten’s signing is crucial for the Patriots, who aim for a strong Super Bowl run. His ability to play both guard positions adds essential depth and flexibility to New England’s offensive line.
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