Patriots place guard Alijah Vera-Tucker on injured reserve before Bears game
New England moves its injured left guard to IR on game day and elevates two practice-squad players for Thursday night
The New England Patriots placed guard Alijah Vera-Tucker on injured reserve before Thursday night's game against the Chicago Bears, according to Adam Schefter. The move turns what had been a likely one-game absence into a longer roster absence.
Vera-Tucker is dealing with a hamstring injury, Mike Reiss reported in a Patriots transaction update. New England also elevated center Xavier Newman-Johnson and outside linebacker Benton Whitley from the practice squad for the game. The center elevation gives the club another interior-line option on a night when its guard depth is under pressure.
Patriots placed G Alijah Vera-Tucker on injured reserve.View on X →
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter): Patriots placed G Alijah Vera-Tucker on injured reserve.
The Patriots had been preparing for a reshuffled line. Earlier this week, Mike Vrabel said Vera-Tucker and guard/center Ben Brown were unlikely to play against Chicago, while tackle Morgan Moses had a chance to be available. Placing Vera-Tucker on IR is a separate, more consequential step than ruling him out of the Thursday matchup: New England must now manage its line beyond the short week.