New England Patriots rookie offensive tackle Will Campbell has been placed on injured reserve, leading to Vederian Lowe stepping up to fill the vacancy. In a notable development, Lowe will make his first start of the season in Week 13 as he takes over for Campbell.
Lowe, a fourth-year player, has been a reliable option for the Patriots this year, participating in all 12 games. He previously demonstrated resilience by starting in 13 of 14 games last season despite playing with a torn labrum. This significant injury occurred during a match against the New York Jets in Week 8 of the previous year.
Reflecting on his recovery, Lowe shared, “I had a torn labrum from last year that I played with. It was just rough trying to finish the year out. I got surgery. My first offseason dealing with a major injury, trying to get myself back. I was proud of getting myself back, being able to be productive, and securing a spot here.” His dedication and hard work have earned him the trust of the coaching staff, allowing him to take the starting role this week.
Last season, despite his injury, Lowe played remarkably well, contributing to the team by participating in 100% of the offensive snaps from Weeks 9 to 17. He also had memorable moments, including catching a four-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Drake Maye against the Los Angeles Rams while still managing to deal with his injury.
With added experience on both special teams and offensive snaps this season, Lowe has shown his potential and commitment to the team, committing just one penalty this year after previously dealing with more frequent infractions.
As Lowe prepares to step into a more prominent role, there’s an optimistic outlook for his performance and a hope that he can continue to build on his past successes for the remainder of the season.