Expensive Victory for Patriots as Key Injuries Pile Up in Bunches vs. Steelers

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – A year removed from an extraordinarily healthy 2025 season, the New England Patriots seem to be paying the price dearly this season.

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The Week 2, 20-3, victory here over the Pittsburgh Steelers took what could be an expensive toll on the Patriots, who saw their training staff making regular trips on and off the field on Sunday.

Head coach Mike Vrabel offered, “no updates,” but there were valuable pieces that left the game, for sure.

First loss is the biggest

No bigger loss on the day was guard Mike Onwenu, who needed to be carted away in the first half and was immediately ruled out with an ankle.

Veteran summer pickup Greg Van Roten was the next man up at right guard.

That injury seemed to open a flood of them.

Edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones was next to go down in the second quarter and never returned.

Tight end Eli Raridon also left early.

The rookie out of Notre Dame had a sweet, contested catch for 30 yards before he left.

Safeties get hit twice

Finally, a pair of safeties, second-year man Craig Woodson and his replacement, Dell Pettus, exited early.

Suddenly, the Patriots were shuttling in names that everyone in the press box and beyond needed roster flip-cards for.

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Secondary replacements Channing Canada and Jaylen Reed (2 tackles) were called on to make plays.

Hutchins delivers from edge

Rookie edge Quintayvious Hutchins also stepped into the fray, assisting on three tackles.

Fortunately, the Pittsburgh offense lacks firepower, but still Vrabel had to be happy that his depth pieces paid off.

“I thought (Hutchins) had a good rush there later on in the game and factored. These guys have all been practicing and working really hard, and I guess I’m just proud of them,” said Vrabel.

“We have to be able to create opportunities for the next guy in. We have to be able to coach them the same. We ask them to come in and prepare like a starter, and sometimes that’s hard.

“Today, they had to be ready to go.”

Long-term, the injuries will be a factor, especially staring at trips to Jacksonville and Buffalo.

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But on Sunday, even in victory, the injuries took their toll.

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This story was originally published September 20, 2026 at 5:15 PM.