The New England Patriots are adding veteran offensive lineman Matt Pryor off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad as injuries continue to thin the right side of the line.
Boston Globe reporter Ben Volin first reported the move Wednesday.
“Source tells me Patriots are signing 9-year veteran G/T Matt Pryor off the Cardinals’ practice squad. Has been with six teams and started 40 games. Patriots are down to their third-string RG and need depth.”
Pryor, 31, is a 6-foot-7, 332-pound blocker out of TCU who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round in 2018. He has appeared in 109 regular-season games with 40 starts.
Most of those starts have come on the right side. Career breakdowns list 25 starts at right guard, nine at right tackle and six at left tackle.
His most extensive recent work at the position New England needs came in 2024 with the Chicago Bears. That season he started 15 games, 14 at right guard and one at right tackle, and played every contest.
Last year he returned to Philadelphia in a reserve role, appearing in all 17 games with one start. Arizona signed him in March, cut him at the end of camp and brought him back to the practice squad.
The Patriots’ right guard situation has changed quickly. Mike Onwenu opened the season as the starter before going on injured reserve with an ankle injury suffered in Week 2.
Greg Van Roten stepped in and started against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. He left in the second quarter and was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
Walter Rouse took over for Van Roten during that game, his first offensive snaps with New England. Ben Brown also saw time as the line shuffled.
Head coach Mike Vrabel has not named a starter for this week.
“Walter and Ben will work in there today and tomorrow, and we’ll kind of see where that goes for the week,” Vrabel said on Wednesday.
Vrabel also said he prefers to keep Alijah Vera-Tucker at left guard next to Will Campbell rather than sliding him across the line.
Right tackle Morgan Moses did not practice Wednesday because of a foot injury, according to the team’s injury report. Pryor’s tackle background gives the staff another option if needed on the edge.
New England still has one open roster spot after this signing. The team also added rookie lineman Da’Metrius Weatherspoon to the practice squad.
Pryor will need time to learn the offense. Whether he can compete immediately for snaps or serve mainly as experienced depth is the question the staff will answer in practice this week.
The Patriots visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Their offensive line has already used three different right guards in four games, and the identity of the next starter remains unsettled.
