The New England Patriots have added two free agents after attrition hit the trenches in the preseason opener.
The organization signed interior offensive linemen Darrian Dalcourt and Joe Michalski on Saturday, as Mike Vrabel had signaled prior to the 15th practice of training camp in Foxborough.
“Yep, I think we’re going to sign two guys this morning, and we’ll get those names out to you or jersey numbers or whatever, but hopefully they’ll be out there,” the head coach told reporters. “But they just showed up this morning.”
During Thursday night’s 13-13 tie with the Indianapolis Colts, proven interior backup Ben Brown exited 18 snaps into his start at center. And in the final quarter at Gillette Stadium, so did the contending Andrew Rupcich, who had drawn the start at left guard and logged 58 snaps.
Now, the indefinite absences have led to a restocking in the middle of things.
Dalcourt, 25, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama in 2024. The former national champion, who started 19 of his 39 games between center and guard for the Crimson Tide, has since made stops on the practice squads of the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns. He stands in at 6-foot-3, 320 pounds.
Michalski, 25, went undrafted out of Oklahoma State in 2025. While a member of the Cowboys, he started 35 of his 59 games and finished as a two-time team captain, two-time All-Big 12 honorable mention and five-time Academic All-Big 12 selection. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound center spent his rookie regular season on the practice squad of the Denver Broncos and was released in January as the calendar turned to the playoffs.
A pair of corresponding moves loom to make room on the 91-man roster.
The Philadelphia Eagles will visit Foxborough for joint practices ahead of next Saturday’s 7 p.m. ET preseason matchup.