The New England Patriots will be without one key reserve offensive lineman in Wednesday night’s regular season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.
On Monday, the Patriots officially ruled out swing interior offensive lineman Ben Brown for the game with a knee injury. He did not travel with the team to Seattle.
Brown sustained the injury in the first preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on August 13. This could mean that veteran offensive lineman Greg Van Roten slides into that role, as the organization looks for depth at the position.
This is certainly a notable development for the Patriots. Brown was a key part of a rebuilding offensive line last season, appearing in 17 games and starting in four for New England.
The good news for the Patriots is the fact that Van Roten has started in at least 17 games in the last three straight seasons. He is a highly experienced veteran with plenty of game experience to step up in an emergency situation, if one arises.
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