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The New England Patriots just lost a key piece of their offense as they head down the home stretch.
Head coach Mike Vrabel announced Wednesday that the team has placed its star left tackle, No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft Will Campbell, on IR due to a knee injury. The 21-year-old was carted off the field during 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 should start in his place.
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Will Campbell (66) of the New England Patriots after a game between the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on October 26, 2025. (Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Patriots are 10-2, winners of nine straight games and sit atop the AFC East. They will face the Buffalo Bills, second in the AFC East with a 7-4 record, in Week 15, a game Campbell will miss.
A big reason for the Patriots’ turnaround — they were 4-13 last season — is the team’s revamped offensive line.
In 2024, the team’s Week 1 offensive linemen included Chukwuma Okorafor at left tackle, Michael Jordan at left guard, David Andrews at center, Layden Robinson at right guard and Michael Onwenu at right tackle.
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New England Patriots offensive tackle Will Campbell, center, lies on the field after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Ohio, November 23, 2025. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
During the offseason, the team added to the offensive line both through the NFL Draft and free agency. In 2025, their Week 1 offensive line was Campbell at left tackle, Jared Wilson at left guard, Garrett Bradbury at center, Onwenu at right guard and Morgan Moses at right tackle.
The remade offensive line has been key to second-year quarterback Drake Maye’s rise into the MVP conversation this year.
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Maye, 23, leads the NFL in completion percentage (71%) and yards (3,130), while throwing 21 touchdowns and six interceptions in 12 games. Improved protection is one of the main reasons for the increase in its production.
However, not only could Maye miss Campbell, but also Wilson. The left guard also left the team’s win over the Bengals due to injury.
It is unclear whether Wilson will be able to play against the New York Giants (2-10) on Monday.
