Since the Patriots faced off against the Colts, they have tried to add more depth to their offensive line after losing backups Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich to injuries. Because their depth was already considered weak, they needed more bodies in the room, which led them to sign versatile lineman Greg Van Roten.
Besides the veteran, the silver lining in the bad news has been watching other key backups rise to the occasion, like tackle Marcus Bryant, who has become a notable name at training camp in recent weeks.
It was an exciting development for the second-year player, only for that all to come crashing down during the first drive of their preseason game against the Eagles on Saturday night.
Bryant was one of the offensive line starters and, unfortunately, suffered an ankle injury on the first offensive possession, leading to an immediate declaration that he would not return for the rest of the night. That's never a good sign, even if it is only a preseason game.
The Patriots just can't catch a break with the injuries to their offensive linemen
Because he won't return, the Patriots will test out other backups in Bryant's place. That could yield some positive results, particularly with rookie Dametrious Crownover, but it won't be clear until the end of the game.
Based on the first drive after Bryant left the game, the new group is struggling to keep quarterback Tommy DeVito safe, which resulted in another failed third-down conversion.
It doesn't offer much optimism about the current offensive line roster, especially given how many injuries the group dealt with in 2025 and the impact that had on Drake Maye. That can't be replicated during the 2026 season, as it is considered a much tougher schedule, and this might force the team to sign even more free agents next week.
That won't be easy, though, with most capable players already under contract elsewhere. Yet the Patriots cannot go into the regular season with their current depth (or lack thereof); if a second disaster strikes, they're in trouble.
Expectations are high after reaching the Super Bowl last year, and the output from the offensive line was a major reason they weren't able to take down the Seahawks.
That's why they prioritized upgrading the group over the past few months, and they can't stop now with injuries piling up.
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