Patriots place guard Mike Onwenu on injured reserve

New England moved right guard Mike Onwenu to injured reserve with an ankle injury and promoted punter Mitch Wishnowsky to the active roster.

The New England Patriots placed right guard Mike Onwenu on injured reserve on Tuesday, two days after he was carted off during a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The move means he will sit out a minimum of four games, and a reported fractured right ankle could sideline him for the rest of the season. Head coach Mike Vrabel indicated Monday that a lengthy absence was likely, saying he did not expect Onwenu to be available in the coming weeks.

To fill the roster spot, New England promoted punter Mitch Wishnowsky from the practice squad. Wishnowsky had been elevated from the practice squad for each of the first two games, leaving him with only one more such elevation available. Regular punter Bryce Baringer remains on injured reserve and is expected to miss at least two more games.

On the offensive line, veteran Greg Van Roten took over at right guard after Onwenu exited in the first quarter against Pittsburgh and appears set to continue in that role between center Jared Wilson and right tackle Morgan Moses. Ben Brown is now the only interior backup remaining on the active roster.

Onwenu is in the final year of a contract he renegotiated in the offseason, putting him on track for free agency. His placement on IR brings the Patriots' injured reserve count to eight players, and the team's Tuesday transactions reduced its salary cap space to just under $6.5 million.