Mike Onwenu’s day ended early on Sunday, and for the Patriots that was the kind of blow that changes the look of an offensive line in an instant. The starting right guard was carted off with a significant ankle injury late in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers after T.J. Watt landed awkwardly on his right leg while pressuring Drake Maye.
Onwenu was ruled out for the rest of the game, forcing New England to turn to Greg Van Roten as its top interior backup. For a team that has leaned on Onwenu’s availability and steadiness for years, the injury was a significant setback as well as a difficult moment for a line already under pressure.
A major loss for the Patriots
Onwenu has been described as the Patriots’ longest-tenured player and one of their most durable, which is why this injury matters beyond just one Sunday. Since being drafted in the sixth round out of Michigan in 2020, he has been a constant presence up front and a player New England has repeatedly trusted in important spots.
He ranked second on the Patriots in offensive snaps played behind Joe Thuney as a rookie in 2020, then led New England in 2022. He was second again in 2023 behind David Andrews before leading the team in both 2024 and 2025. That kind of workload tells the story: Onwenu has not just been a starter, he has been central to the way the Patriots have built their interior line.
What comes next up front?
With Onwenu off the field, the immediate question is how New England manages the right guard spot if he has to miss time. Van Roten was the first answer on Sunday, but the Patriots also have Ben Brown, Walter Rouse, Jake Kubas and Jacob Rizy in the interior line depth picture.
That group gives New England options, but none of them can replace what Onwenu has meant in terms of snap volume, reliability and continuity. The Patriots will now wait to learn the extent of the ankle injury, and after a significant blow like this, the bigger concern is not just one game. It is how long they may have to do without one of their most dependable linemen.
