NFL news: Patriots place left tackle Will Campbell on IR with knee injury
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The New England Patriots lost a key piece of their offense as they headed into an overtime series.
The team has placed star left tackle Will Campbell, the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, on IR with a knee injury, head coach Mike Vrabel announced Wednesday.
The 21-year-old was carted off the field in the third quarter of the team’s 26-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
Campbell will be eligible to return for the team’s Week 18 game against the Miami Dolphins. Vederian Lowe is expected to start in his place.
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Will Campbell of the New England Patriots after a game against the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, October 26, 2025. (Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Patriots are 10-2, have won nine straight games and sit atop the AFC East. They play the Buffalo Bills, who sit second in the AFC East at 7-4, in Week 15, a game Campbell will miss.
A big reason for the Patriots’ turnaround (they were 4-13 last season) was the team’s revamped offensive line.
In 2024, the team’s Week 1 offensive linemen included Chukwuma Okorafor at left guard, Michael Jordan at left guard, David Andrews at center, Layden Robinson at right guard and Michael Onwenu at right guard.
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New England Patriots offensive tackle Will Campbell (center) lies on the field after being injured in the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals on November 23, 2025 in Cincinnati. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
Throughout the offseason, the team made additions to its offensive line through both the NFL Draft and free agency. The Week 1 offensive line in 2025 was Campbell at left guard, Jared Wilson at left guard, Garrett Bradbury at center, Onwenu at right guard and Morgan Moses at right guard.
The revamped offensive line was critical to second-year quarterback Drake Maye’s rise to the MVP conversation this year.
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Maye, 23, led the NFL in completion percentage (71%) and yards (3,130) while throwing 21 touchdowns and six interceptions in 12 games. A big reason for this increase in production is improved protection.
But Maye may also be missing Wilson. The left defender also suffered an injury in the team’s win against the Bengals.
It’s unclear whether Wilson will play against the New York Giants (2-10) on Monday.
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