Patriots place starting right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor on injured reserve

The New England Patriots will be without Jermaine Eluemunor for a minimum of three weeks.

The 25-year-old right tackle went on injured reserve Wednesday, the organization announced, due to an ankle injury suffered in last Sunday’s 18-12 loss to the Denver Broncos.

It arrived on the 12th offensive snap at Gillette Stadium, as Eluemunor’s right leg got caught underneath quarterback Cam Newton on a sack by Broncos linebacker Anthony Chickillo. Eluemunor would subsequently be downgraded from questionable to out as the Patriots turned to rookies in Michigan’s Mike Onwenu and Wake Forest’s Justin Herron at the bookend spot.

Eluemunor has started each of his four appearances for the line this season. He was active yet sidelined earlier in October against the Kansas City Chiefs because of a migraine.

The 6-foot-4, 335-pound Texas A&M product entered the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens at pick No. 159 overall in the 2017 draft, and was acquired last August in an exchange of fourth- and sixth-round selections. Eluemunor would be tendered as a restricted free agent as the 2020 league year opened.

His placement on injured reserve was among a series of roster moves made by the Patriots on Wednesday.

After returning to practice, starting right guard Shaq Mason, defensive lineman Byron Cowart and outside linebacker Derek Rivers have been activated from the Covid-19 reserve list, according to the transaction wire. In addition, center and captain David Andrews, nose tackle Beau Allen and rookie linebacker Josh Uche have each been designated to return from IR.

New England is scheduled to host the San Francisco 49ers for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday.