Greg Van Roten will start at right guard for the Patriots in Week 3, replacing Mike Onwenu due to injury. It's not a glamorous headline, but it matters more than you might think. The offensive line is where championships are built or buried, and losing Onwenu forces Mike Vrabel's hand earlier than anyone wanted.
Van Roten is a proven veteran who's seen plenty of snaps across his career. He understands angles, positioning, and the mental side of the game. You're not getting a world-beater here—this isn't a lateral move that excites anyone—but you're getting someone who won't get pushed around. The Patriots' run game and Drake Maye's protection window depend on interior consistency. Van Roten has to hold that line.
The deeper concern: how long is Onwenu out? If this is a one-week thing, fine. You manage the rotation and move forward. But if we're talking multiple weeks, the Patriots need to evaluate whether their depth is sufficient. Injuries up front compound quickly. One problem becomes two becomes five. Vrabel's got experience running offenses with different personnel, but bandwidth matters when you're building something.
For now, this is a plug-and-play situation. Van Roten starts, Onwenu heals, life goes on. But Week 3 will tell us plenty about whether the Patriots' offensive line can withstand adversity. That's the real story to watch.