Patriots' Onwenu Carted Off With Ankle Injury
11 sourcesUpdated Sep 20, 2026
Patriots right guard Mike Onwenu was carted off and ruled out with an ankle injury in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 20, 2026. T.J. Watt fell onto the back of Onwenu's leg while missing a sack on Drake Maye. Onwenu stayed down several minutes in visible pain as training staff and Mike Vrabel attended him. Mark Daniels reported that Michael Onwenu has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Greg Van Roten replaced him at right guard. Onwenu, 28, started all 17 games in each of the prior two seasons and has missed only three games since the 2020 draft. Dre'Mont Jones was ruled out with a shoulder injury after exiting on an Aaron Rodgers sack-fumble play. Eli Raridon (thigh; one catch for 30 yards), Dell Pettus (ankle), and Craig Woodson (shoulder) were also ruled out. Marcus Jones left briefly with a lower-body injury and returned after two plays. CONTESTED: No dispute on the injury sequence, cart, or out rulings. Left-rated outlets foregrounded Onwenu's ankle and line impact; the right-rated Boston Herald led with Jones as a key defender lost. How long Onwenu might miss was unannounced.
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Center· 0 sources
No center coverage yet — a bubble gap.
Right· 1 source
“Patriots lose key defender to shoulder injury vs. Steelers”Hope the trainers got a good look and it's only a sprain instead of something worse.
Watt falling on his leg like that is just bad luck but these ankle injuries can linger all season.
Patriots line is already thin up front so losing Onwenu early hurts their run game badly.
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