FOXBORO — Left tackle Will Campbell and defensive tackle Milton Williams of the New England Patriots have made encouraging strides in their recoveries from injuries, having been spotted in the locker room this week without any visible aids such as boots or braces. This development indicates that both players may be on track to return from injured reserve.
Williams sustained a high ankle sprain during the team’s victory over the Jets last month. In contrast, Campbell is dealing with a significant MCL sprain, which resulted in him being carted off the field during a game in Cincinnati on November 23. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel provided an optimistic update on the duo’s progress on Friday, confirming that both players are expected to see action again this season.
“We’ll get them back. We have a plan for each guy,” Vrabel stated. “And again, I appreciate them being good with the plan that we have, talking about being in the meetings, then getting out of meetings early, going to rehab so that there’s some timing and we’re not overloading the training room. And then usually a week before they can start practicing, we’ll get them into meetings full-time, kind of go from there and see.”
Vrabel mentioned that each player’s path back may differ in timing, indicating a flexible approach toward their rehabilitation. Williams could potentially return as early as December 28 for an away game against the Jets, while Campbell will have to remain on injured reserve until the season finale against Miami on January 4.
This news brings a sense of hope for Patriots fans as both players play critical roles on the team and their return could bolster the roster as the season approaches its final stretch.