This past Sunday, September 20, the New England Patriots saw a turnaround they and the fans were hoping for after the opening-week loss against the Seahawks . With a win of 20-3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers , the team is already making up for the loss in Week 1. However, this game also saw a multitude of injuries that will surely affect the team for the rest of the season.
Sep 20, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots offensive line Mike Onwenu (71) is carted off after an apparent injury in the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
First is the big one: during the game, Mike Onwenu broke his ankle. It wasn't a pretty injury either; his foot was twisted in ways that feet shouldn't be twisted. After the injury happened, Onwenu had to be carted off the field, and an X-ray showed a fracture in his ankle. He has since been put on Injured Reserve as of September 22 and will be out for the time being. Mike Vrabel was asked about Onwenu's injury and when he'll be back in a presser on Monday .
"I don't think he'll be available here in the short term," Vrabel said. "So, I wouldn't anticipate him being out there here in the next few weeks. If that changes and it ends up being longer than that, then we will let you guys know."
There are currently a lot of fears that this will be a season-ender for Onwenu. Vrabel has not confirmed that at the time of writing, but he was careful with his words. Seeming hopeful, but not entirely banking on a recovery.
"I don't know how he's going to progress during the week," Vrabel said. "He wasn't able to finish the game, obviously. He'll do everything he can to be ready, and if he's not, then we'll have to have alternate plans."
For now, Onwenu is out, but for last Sunday's game, he wasn't alone. There are a total of five game-ending injurie s for the New England Patriots.
Most injuries are caused by players tumbling over each other, as is what happens in the sport. At the time of writing, the players' statuses due to injuries are labeled as questionable, but they don't seem nearly as severe as what Onwenu saw, thankfully.
Dre'Mont Jones suffered a shoulder injury, as did Craig Woodson , who left wearing an arm sling.
Eli Raridon suffered an injury in his thigh. There is hope that it will be an easy recovery given that it was his thigh and not bone. Finally, Dell Pettus experienced an ankle injury just like A.J. Brown and Mike Onwenu, but his status is still labeled as questionable, so he'll likely make a recovery.
All the above players had to leave before the game was finished due to their injuries, and Vrabel had to reshuffle players out of the reserves on the fly. This next week, it is likely that the practice squad will also see a few positions open up as higher-up spots are filled and players are shifted around. The players who have stepped up against the Steelers have been pretty competent; this was a blowout victory for the Patriots. Mike Vrabel does have a plan in place in case more players need to be put on injured reserve, but at the moment, he doesn't know how long he'll need to plan for.
Sep 20, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel reacts in the second half of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Just two weeks in, the New England Patriots have seen so many injuries already. It's not unusual for a football team to see a lot of injuries; however, they will still change the playing field. Vrabel isn't saying much about Onwenu's broken ankle, but it is unlikely he will be back on the field anytime soon; it could be months until the fracture heals enough for him to get back on the practice field. Everyone is, of course, wishing these athletes a speedy and comfortable recovery; hopefully their recoveries go smoothly, no matter how long they need.
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