The New England Patriots have major concerns after rookie left tackle Will Campbell suffered a knee injury (likely MCL sprain) and left guard Jared Wilson sustained a high-ankle sprain.
Rookie left tackle Will Campbell exited Sunday’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals after suffering a knee injury when a defender rolled into his leg during a run-play collision.
Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed that Campbell will not play in Week 13 and noted the injury will likely cost more than a week or two.
Just discussed on @GMFB: #Patriots LT Will Campbell is believed to have suffered an MCL sprain and will have an MRI on his knee, sources said. He’s a candidate for Injured Reserve, with the hope he returns when it counts the most. pic.twitter.com/2E6kg12izj
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 24, 2025
Campbell is now considered a candidate for injured reserve, which would require a minimum of four games missed, though the team hopes he can return before the end of the season.
Given that Campbell was a first-round pick and a key piece of the Patriots’ rebuild up front, his absence places added pressure on the offensive line to maintain protection for the team’s quarterback and ground game.
Wilson’s high-ankle sprain compounds depth issues
In the same game, rookie left guard Jared Wilson left with an ankle injury. Initial reports indicate a high-ankle sprain, a diagnosis that traditionally entails a 4-6 week recovery, but the Patriots are hopeful he returns sooner.
Vrabel described his status as “week-to-week” and emphasized that the team will monitor how he responds during the upcoming week of practice.
#Patriots LG Jared Wilson suffered a high-ankle sprain, sources say, and he’s considered week-to-week. While most high-ankle sprains are 4-6 weeks, the hope is this is on the shorter side.
With Will Campbell (knee) missing time, a challenge for NE’s O-line. pic.twitter.com/xNFVLbHtEr
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 24, 2025
With both Campbell and Wilson sidelined, the Patriots will field a modified left side of the line, likely turning to backups like Vederian Lowe and Ben Brown. That shift may impact run-blocking cohesion and pass-protection consistency as New England pursues a top seed in the AFC.
Implications for the Patriots’ offensive line and playoff push
The dual injuries at the left tackle and left guard spots arrive at a critical juncture; the Patriots currently sit at 10-2 and are leading the AFC East.
Losing two starters on the same side of the line magnifies concerns about depth and fluidity on early downs, particularly when facing strong edge rushers or teams that attack the interior. The Patriots’ performance could be affected by third-down efficiency and QB-sack avoidance.
#Patriots HC Mike Vrabel on LT Will Campbell’s injury:
“He won’t be out there this week and it’s gonna be a couple weeks. We’ll have to make a decision here on the roster to see how long that’ll be… But, it’s nothing that’s gonna hopefully put him out for the entire season.” pic.twitter.com/ntslfgX09c
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) November 24, 2025
The good news: neither injury appears season-ending at this point. Campbell may miss multiple weeks but not the entire campaign, and Wilson’s timeline may be shorter than the standard timeline for a high-ankle sprain.
That said, the task now is to maintain momentum while integrating newly added personnel without a major drop-off.
In a league where margins are razor-thin come January, how the Patriots respond to this setback could influence not only the remainder of the regular season but also their postseason trajectory.
