Patriots Terminate Contract of Monstrous 6-foot-6 Veteran

The New England Patriots have terminated the contract of offensive lineman Andrew Rupcich, waiving the 6-foot-6, 325-pound veteran from injured reserve with an injury settlement, according to NFL transaction reports.

The move ends his latest stint in Foxborough after a brief but eventful training camp.

Rupcich, 27, suffered a strained MCL in the fourth quarter of the Patriots’ preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. He started at left guard and played 58 offensive snaps in the 13-13 tie before exiting. The injury did not require surgery.

The team placed him on injured reserve on Aug. 15, a designation that typically sidelines a player for the season.

The settlement allows Rupcich to go through waivers and become a free agent, opening the possibility of signing with another team or even returning to New England later. It follows a similar move the Patriots made with running back Terrell Jennings days earlier.

Rupcich joined the Patriots’ practice squad in late September 2025 after being released by the Tennessee Titans. He signed a reserve/futures contract in February 2026 and entered camp competing for a roster spot as a versatile interior lineman who can play guard and center.

Head coach Mike Vrabel, who previously coached him in Tennessee, was familiar with the undrafted free agent out of NAIA program Culver-Stockton College.

In Tennessee, Rupcich appeared in 12 games with two starts from 2022 to 2025. His 2024 season ended early due to a triceps injury.

With New England, he was viewed as one of the better backup options along an interior line that already faced questions after injuries to players like Ben Brown. The Patriots responded by signing additional linemen, including Darrian Dalcourt, Joe Michalski, and veteran Greg Van Roten.

The waiver trims New England’s injured-reserve list, which still includes several players out for the year. For Rupcich, the settlement gives him a chance to resume his career sooner than a full IR stay would have allowed.

At his size and with NFL experience, he remains a candidate for teams seeking interior depth as the regular season approaches.

The Patriots continue preseason play, including a matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, as they finalize their offensive line mix.

Rupcich’s departure is another reminder of the roster churn typical of late August, even for a player who had shown well enough to start a preseason game.