The New England Patriots will be without starting guards Alijah Vera-Tucker and Ben Brown for Thursday's road game against the Chicago Bears due to injuries, coach Mike Vrabel said.
Vera-Tucker had played every snap this season at left guard before injuring his hamstring in the second quarter of Sunday's win over the New York Jets, his former team. Brown, the third right guard to start after Mike Onwenu and Greg Van Roten both landed on injured reserve, hobbled off in the second half of Sunday's game with a knee injury.
Vrabel said Walter Rouse, a three-year veteran acquired in a trade from the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 30, will start at left guard. It will be his first career NFL start. Matt Pryor, a nine-year veteran whom the Patriots signed off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad on Oct. 1, will start at right guard. He has started 40 career games, including 15 in the 2024 season with the Chicago Bears.
Quarterback Drake Maye wasn't sacked in Sunday's win and credited the offensive line, which also played without right tackle Morgan Moses (foot) for two-plus quarters. Moses was limited in practice recently, but Vrabel said he has a chance to play against the Bears. The Patriots (4-2) have won three straight games, though they have also placed receiver Romeo Doubs (shoulder) on injured reserve and will be without cornerback Carlton Davis III (neck) for the third game in a row.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing