Two guards out, one short week
The New England Patriots will play at Chicago on Thursday without either starting guard. Left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker is out with a hamstring injury, and right guard Ben Brown is out with a knee problem. Cornerback Carlton Davis III (neck) will also sit.
Both teams arrive at 4-2, so the interior of New England’s line becomes the story of the night. Matt Pryor and Walter Rouse are set to fill the two spots.
Pryor is the steadier of the pair. The 31-year-old has 40 career starts in 111 games, including 15 starts in 17 games for the Bears in 2024. He knows the building and the opposing front. Rouse is 25 and will make the first NFL start of his career, on a short week, on the road.
no renewal
Free for 2 weeks.
Depth thin in the secondary too
The injury list does not stop at the line. Backup cornerbacks Karon Prunty and Channing Canada, both nursing hamstring problems, are also out, which leaves New England light behind Davis.
Four more Patriots are listed as questionable: right tackle Morgan Moses (foot), linebacker Christian Elliss (chest), and safeties Kevin Byard III (chest) and Craig Woodson (shoulder). Moses matters most. With both guards missing, losing a starting tackle as well would leave the whole right side of the line rebuilt.
Chicago has holes of its own
The Bears are not at full strength either. Running back Kyle Monangai (thumb, toe) will miss a third straight game, and linebacker Jack Sanborn is out with a concussion. Linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) is doubtful. Defensive back Tyrique Stevenson (hip) is questionable but took full part in Wednesday’s practice.
That leaves Chicago’s front seven a little thinner just as it faces a patched-together guard pairing. The matchup between those inexperienced New England guards and the Bears’ pass rush is the one to watch from the opening series.
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