Mike Onwenu suffers a right ankle injury during Patriots game vs. Steelers

Mike Onwenu’s injury was one of the toughest moments of the Patriots’ game, as the veteran offensive lineman was carted off with a right ankle injury after a scary sequence late in the first quarter. Onwenu went down when Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt rolled into his leg while bringing pressure on Drake Maye. He remained on the field for several minutes as the Patriots’ medical staff attended to him, with head coach Mike Vrabel also coming over before Onwenu was eventually helped onto the cart and ruled out. The injury is a major blow to New England’s offensive line, especially considering the level of consistency Onwenu had provided. Through Week 1, he had posted an 88.9 pass-blocking grade while allowing zero pressures, according to the figures provided, and he had been one of the Patriots’ longest-tenured players. Greg Van Roten stepped in at right guard after Onwenu’s exit, but replacing a dependable starter in the middle of a game is never simple. For a Patriots offense already dealing with injuries, losing another key piece up front could make the road ahead even more challenging.