The New England Patriots jumped ahead 10-0 against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the early going of their Week 2 home opener Sunday, only to lose starting right guard Mike Onwenu to a right ankle injury that immediately ended his afternoon.
Onwenu was carted off the field during the Patriots’ second scoring drive and ruled out for the remainder of the game within minutes.
New England had just pushed its lead to 10-0 on a 30-yard field goal by Andy Borregales early in the second quarter when the veteran lineman went down.
The Patriots first reached the end zone on a 39-yard touchdown run by TreVeyon Henderson in the first quarter. Henderson, making his 2026 season debut after sitting out Week 1 with an ankle injury of his own, finished the early going with 56 rushing yards on five carries.
Onwenu has been one of the most reliable pieces of the Patriots’ offensive line. He started all 17 regular-season games in each of the previous two seasons and all four playoff games last year.
The 28-year-old Michigan product has appeared in 99 regular-season games for New England since being drafted in the sixth round in 2020. He signed a reworked one-year deal this offseason that reduced his cap number while adding guaranteed money.
Through the first game of 2026 plus the opening snaps Sunday, Pro Football Focus graded Onwenu 75.7 overall, 11th among qualified guards. His 88.9 pass-blocking grade ranked first at the position, and he had allowed zero pressures, sacks or hits.
Losing him leaves the Patriots thinner up front. Ben Brown was expected to make his season debut as a backup after a preseason knee injury, joining other interior options behind the starting five of Will Campbell, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson, Onwenu and Morgan Moses.
New England entered the game 0-1 after a 13-10 loss at Seattle. Pittsburgh came in 1-0.
The Steelers were without starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (back) for a second straight week and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (foot). The Patriots were missing starting corner Carlton Davis III (neck) and tackle Dametrious Crownover (knee).
Drake Maye completed six of seven passes for 79 yards in the opening stages, helping New England pile up 137 total yards to Pittsburgh’s 42 through the early second quarter.
Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers offense managed just 20 rushing yards and 28 passing yards in the same span, with Jaylen Warren limited to 11 yards on four carries.
Henderson’s long touchdown run marked a strong return for the second-year back, who rushed for 911 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie while averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
Borregales, in his second NFL season, converted his only field-goal try and the extra point. The former Miami kicker made 27 of 32 field goals as a rookie last year.
The Patriots’ early efficiency on the ground and through the air came against a Steelers defense missing two key pieces in the secondary. New England’s offensive line had been a point of emphasis after last week’s loss.
Onwenu’s absence will test that group for the rest of Sunday and potentially beyond, depending on the severity of the ankle injury. The Patriots already were managing several other line and skill-position absences heading into the home opener at Gillette Stadium.
Pittsburgh’s early struggles to move the ball left New England in control despite the sudden loss of a starter who had played nearly every offensive snap the past two seasons.
The game remained in the second quarter with the Patriots holding the 10-0 lead after the field goal and Onwenu’s departure.
