Patriots left tackle Will Campbell on track to play Sunday; coach Mike Vrabel says: 'It looks good'
In addition to Campbell, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte and defensive tackle Milton Williams look poised to return from injury Sunday.
Will Campbell, the No. 4 pick in April’s draft, has missed the last four games because of a right knee injury. Eric Canha / Imagn Images
FOXBORO, Mass. — With one week remaining until the start of the playoffs, the Patriots are finally getting some good news on the injury front.
Rookie left tackle Will Campbell, the No. 4 pick in April’s draft, seems poised to return to game action after missing four games with a right knee injury.
“It looks good,” coach Mike Vrabel said regarding the odds Campbell will be protecting quarterback Drake Maye’s blindside in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Miami Dolphins. Campbell will have to be activated from injured reserve to play in Sunday’s game.
The addition is a massive one for the Patriots with the postseason looming. While Vederian Lowe played fine in relief of Campbell, the Patriots needed Campbell back before the start of the playoffs. Now, Campbell will have one game against the Dolphins to prep for playoff action.
“I’m looking forward to having Big Willy back out there and looking forward to seeing him get back to doing what he does best,” Maye said earlier this week.
The Patriots played last week without seven starters, as injuries continued to pile up in December. Finally, good news is on the way on the injury front.
In addition to Campbell, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (concussion) and defensive tackle Milton Williams (ankle) look poised to return from injuries. Left guard Jared Wilson (concussion), leading tackler Robert Spillane (ankle), edge rusher Harold Landry III (knee) and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (foot) were ruled out for Sunday’s finale.
Still, few players are as important to the Patriots as Campbell, their 21-year-old tackle out of LSU. With the Patriots’ most likely wild-card round opponent being the Los Angeles Chargers, who boast an impressive defensive line led by Khalil Mack, New England must get healthy on the O-line. With Campbell back, that’s a big step in the right direction.
Chad Graff is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the New England Patriots since 2022 after five years on the Minnesota Vikings beat. Graff joined The Athletic in January 2018 after covering a bit of everything for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He won the Pro Football Writers of America’s 2022 Bob Oates Award for beat writing. He's a New Hampshire native and an adjunct professor of journalism at Northeastern University. Follow Chad on Twitter