What happened: Acquired from the Minnesota Vikings in a late-August trade alongside running back Corey Kiner's arrival from the Arizona Cardinals, offensive lineman Walter Rouse has moved from backup tackle into the New England Patriots' starting guard rotation. The 25-year-old first stepped in at right guard during Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars after Greg Van Roten exited in the first half, then played left guard in Week 6 against the New York Jets when Alijah Vera-Tucker and Ben Brown left the contest. Four days later against the Chicago Bears, the 6-foot-6, 322-pound lineman made his first career NFL start and said this week at Gillette Stadium that the live game reps have increased his comfort in pass protection and run blocking.

Why it matters: New England enters the week at 4-3 and eighth in the AFC while navigating a depleted interior offensive line that has placed starter Mike Onwenu (ankle), replacement Greg Van Roten (thigh), and left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (hamstring) on injured reserve. Rouse spent his previous two NFL seasons in Minnesota primarily as a backup tackle, with his prior guard reps limited to practice and preseason settings. His ability to hold up inside alongside fourth-string right guard Matt Pryor directly affects how the Patriots protect the pocket during a midseason stretch against playoff-caliber opponents.

What to watch: With Ben Brown returning to practice this week under a questionable designation, New England will decide whether Rouse and Matt Pryor remain the starting guard duo for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. Rouse said he is continuing to prepare as a starter throughout the week regardless of how the lineup is set.