Patriots sign two offensive linemen after Ben Brown goes down with weeks-long injury 

The New England Patriots’ already thin offensive-line depth took another hit on Thursday.

During New England’s preseason opener against the Colts, Ben Brown — the Patriots’ top depth option at both center and guard — suffered a leg injury that sidelined him for the rest of the night.

During a play where Patriots QB Tommy DeVito tried to scramble for extra yardage, the signal-caller was tackled and knocked into Brown’s leg — who tried to walk off the injury before eventually falling to the gridiron. 

After needing help to get over to the blue medical tent, Brown gingerly made his way to the Patriots’ locker room — and did not return for the remainder of New England’s eventual 13-13 draw against Indianapolis. 

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s practice, Mike Vrabel confirmed that Brown will be sidelined for some time.

“Ben is going to be a few weeks,” Vrabel said. “Four-to-six, eight, 10, 12. Even numbers. But it will probably be extensive throughout the rest of the preseason for sure.”

With Brown on the shelf, Vrabel noted that the Patriots were going to sign two additional offensive linemen — with the team confirming shortly after Vrabel’s press conference that New England signed Darrian Dalcourt and Joe Michalski.

Dalcourt, 24, played at the University of Alabama from 2019 to 2023 and signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2024.

Dalcourt has logged stints with the Ravens, Commanders, Panthers, and Browns over the last two seasons — but has yet to appear in an NFL regular-season game. He primarily played center with the Crimson Tide, but has also played guard. 

Michalski, 25, was an undrafted free agent after playing at Oklahoma State from 2019-24 — spending time on the Denver Broncos’ practice squad last season. Much like Dalcourt, Michalski played center in college. 

Losing Brown for an extended stretch stands as a sizable setback for New England’s depth chart, with the 28-year-old offensive lineman appearing in 27 games for the Patriots since the team signed him off the Raiders’ practice squad in October 2024. 

New England’s projected starting five-man unit on the offensive line is impressive: left tackle Will Campbell, left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, center Jared Wilson, right guard Mike Onwenu, and right tackle Morgan Moses. 

But things can spiral in short order for New England given the lack of depth behind the starters in the trenches, especially with Vera-Tucker hindered by injuries over the years and Wilson slotting over as a full-time center in 2026 after playing his rookie year at guard. 

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.