FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots' offensive line has already taken their lumps.
Last week, the team lost two of their top backups when center/guard Ben Brown suffered a lower-body injury, and Andrew Rupcich suffered a knee injury. Brown will miss the rest of training camp while Rupcich is out for the season.
That has led the Patriots to have a less-than-ideal backup guard/center situation. Their top backup center is undrafted free agent Jacob Rizy. Replacing Rupcich has been 2025 undrafted free agent Mehki Butler.
The Patriots' other top backup guard, James Hudson, has played in the NFL as a tackle but never as a guard. Mike Vrabel has said the Patriots want to cross-train rookie Caleb Lomu at guard, but the coach noted the rookie has had his hands full practicing at left and right tackle.
"What happens is, where do you feel like he can make the most strides, and you don't want to derail the improvement that he's making and some of those things," Vrabel said. "And so I'm probably much like you guys and say, 'Hey, that it's not that big of a deal to go from tackle to guard.'
#backup
Last week, the team lost two of their top backups when center/guard Ben Brown suffered a lower-body injury, and Andrew Rupcich suffered a knee injury. Brown will miss the rest of training camp while Rupcich is out for the season.
That has led the Patriots to have a less-than-ideal backup guard/center situation. Their top backup center is undrafted free agent Jacob Rizy. Replacing Rupcich has been 2025 undrafted free agent Mehki Butler.
The Patriots' other top backup guard, James Hudson, has played in the NFL as a tackle but never as a guard. Mike Vrabel has said the Patriots want to cross-train rookie Caleb Lomu at guard, but the coach noted the rookie has had his hands full practicing at left and right tackle.
"What happens is, where do you feel like he can make the most strides, and you don't want to derail the improvement that he's making and some of those things," Vrabel said. "And so I'm probably much like you guys and say, 'Hey, that it's not that big of a deal to go from tackle to guard.'
#backup
28 days ago
