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What placing Greg Van Roten on injured reserve means for the Patriots

New England has suffered another significant setback along its offensive line following a lopsided defeat in Jacksonville. Greg Van Roten has been shut down for a minimum of four games due to a thigh injury picked up during that contest, forcing the franchise to place him on injured reserve.

This development compounds an already difficult situation after Mike Onwenu fractured his ankle earlier in the month during a victory against Pittsburgh, leaving the team without its top two right guards in consecutive weeks.

Walter Rouse struggled after stepping into the lineup as a replacement last weekend, opening the door for either him or Ben Brown to draw the start against Buffalo in Week 4. Six interior offensive linemen remain available across the active roster and practice squad, though primary depth is thin and rookies like Caleb Lomu are currently needed elsewhere.

Team leadership has not yet announced corresponding additions to fill the two open roster spots left by these ongoing injuries.

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