Overview
- The Patriots agreed to a one-year contract with Greg Van Roten that sources report carries about a $3 million base and up to roughly $4.5 million with signing and playing-time incentives.
- New England moved after injuries to backup Ben Brown and the placement of Andrew Rupcich on injured reserve left the team short on experienced interior depth.
- Van Roten is a durable, 36-year-old journeyman with roughly 144 NFL games and 105 career starts and has started every regular-season game for each of the past three seasons.
- The veteran’s ability to play both guard and center is intended as short-term insurance behind starters Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson and Mike Onwenu while younger backups continue to develop.
- Van Roten must acclimate quickly because he will join the Patriots for joint practices with Philadelphia this week and a preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 22, that will test how fast he learns the offense.