Patriots rule one player out for Wednesday's opener against Seahawks

The New England Patriots have announced that offensive lineman Ben Brown will miss Wednesday night's regular season opener against the Seattle Seahawks due to a knee injury. Brown, who sustained the injury during the first preseason game on August 13 against the Indianapolis Colts, did not travel with the team to Seattle. This absence could lead to veteran offensive lineman Greg Van Roten stepping into Brown's role, as the Patriots seek depth at this position.

Brown had been a crucial part of a rebuilding offensive line last season, appearing in 17 games and starting four games for New England. However, the good news for the Patriots is that Van Roten, a highly experienced veteran, has started at least 17 games in the past three seasons and has the game experience to step up in an emergency situation if needed.