The New England Patriots have suffered another significant offensive-line blow just hours before Thursday Night Football.
The Patriots placed LG Alijah Vera-Tucker on IR.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) October 22, 2026
The Patriots placed starting left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker on injured reserve Thursday, meaning he will miss at least four games as the team prepares to face the Chicago Bears.
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Alijah Vera-Tucker placed on injured reserve
Vera-Tucker suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday’s 29-16 victory over the New York Jets and had already been ruled out for Thursday night’s matchup. He did not practice Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday before the Patriots officially moved him to injured reserve.
The 27-year-old guard had started all six games for New England after signing with the Patriots as a free agent in March. The former No. 14 overall pick has dealt with significant injury problems throughout his career, making Thursday’s roster move another frustrating setback for a player the Patriots brought in to help stabilize their offensive line.
Because Vera-Tucker is going on injured reserve, he will be required to miss a minimum of four games before he can return. His absence comes at an especially difficult time for New England, which is already dealing with multiple injuries along the offensive line.
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Patriots face major offensive line problems vs. Bears
New England is now without multiple interior offensive linemen. Starting right guard Ben Brown is also out with a knee injury, while Mike Onwenu and Greg Van Roten are already on injured reserve. The Patriots announced Thursday that they elevated Xavier Newman-Johnson from the practice squad to help address the shortage.
Head coach Mike Vrabel indicated that Walter Rouse and Matt Pryor are expected to start at guard against Chicago. That means the Patriots will have a significantly different interior offensive line than the one that opened the season.
The timing could hardly be worse. New England enters Thursday night’s matchup at 4-2, while Chicago also sits at 4-2, making the game an important early-season matchup between two teams fighting to remain near the top of their respective playoff races.
The Patriots will need their reshuffled offensive line to hold up against a Bears defense capable of creating pressure, while Drake Maye and the offense attempt to continue their strong start to the season. Vera-Tucker’s placement on IR adds another layer of difficulty to an already challenging Thursday night.
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