Will Campbell’s Injury Forces New England Patriots to Adapt
The New England Patriots have been dealt a significant blow with the news that rookie Will Campbell has suffered a knee injury, which has placed him on injured reserve for at least the next four weeks. This development, while unfortunate, has prompted the team’s offensive line to rally around Campbell during his recovery, working diligently to fill the void left by the first-round pick at left tackle.
Support from Veteran Linemen
In the wake of Campbell’s injury, starting center Garrett Bradbury took a moment to address reporters about the situation. He expressed the collective effort of the veteran linemen to support the rookie.
“It’s a blessing because it looked really bad,” Bradbury stated, reflecting on the severity of the injury. “He hasn’t dealt with a whole lot of injury adversity. Me and Morgan (Moses), our starting right tackle, have kind of been in his ear about things he can do in the time being to get back faster and mentally to stay in it. It’s going to happen — it’s the NFL; injury rate is 100 percent — and he can come back from this better.”
Impact on the Lineup
Campbell sustained his injury during the Patriots’ hard-fought 26-20 victory over the Bengals, leading to veteran Vederian Lowe stepping in to take over the left tackle position. Following the game, head coach Mike Vrabel provided no immediate updates on Campbell’s condition. However, the following day, he indicated that the fourth overall pick from this year’s draft was dealing with an MCL sprain. This announcement paved the way for Lowe to make his first start of the season.
As Campbell embarks on his recovery journey, the Patriots’ offensive line faces the dual challenge of adapting to his absence while providing him with the necessary support to return stronger than before. The camaraderie within the unit could prove crucial as they navigate this period of adjustment, embodying the resilience that is synonymous with the franchise.
