The New England Patriots jumped to a 10-7 halftime lead over the Indianapolis Colts in their preseason opener, but they lost a valuable member of their offensive line along the way. Ben Brown, the team’s top backup along the interior O-line, exited the contest after suffering an injury in the second quarter.
Starting the game at center, Brown remained on the ground after a 2-yard sack against quarterback Tommy DeVito. While he did walk off the field under his own power, he required assistance before heading into the blue medical tent on the sideline. After a short stay in the tent, he slowly walked back to the locker room for some further evaluation.
Brown, 28, originally arrived in Foxborough during the 2024 season. He spent last year as the Patriots’ fourth interior offensive lineman, starting four games and playing roughly one fourth of offensive snaps on the year. He also signed a two-year, $5 million contract extension in December.
The deal cemented his status as the next man up along an interior that enters 2026 led by starting trio Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson and Mike Onwenu. With none of the three taking the field against the Colts, however, Brown was chosen to start the game at center. He was flanked by guards Andrew Rupcich and James Hudson.
When he left the game with three minutes left in the first period, undrafted rookie Jacob Rizy took over as New England’s center.