TL;DR
- Will Campbell sustained an MCL sprain, not a season-ending injury, for the New England Patriots.
- He is expected to miss at least four weeks and will likely be placed on injured reserve.
- Campbell's return before the playoffs is considered favorable, with ample time remaining.
The New England Patriots appear to have dodged a bullet when it comes to left tackle Will Campbell's injury.
Campbell sustained a knee injury during the third quarter of the Week 12 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals. Initially, it appeared to be the worst possible outcome for Campbell, as he was visibly upset while being transported to the locker room on a cart.
But NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Monday that Campbell is just dealing with an MCL sprain, which makes him a candidate for injured reserve but will not knock him out for the rest of the season.
Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed that Campbell's injury isn't likely to be a season-ending issue.
“He won’t be out there this week and it’s gonna be a couple weeks. We’ll have to make a decision here on the roster to see how long that’ll be," he said of his left tackle. "But, it’s nothing that’s gonna hopefully put him out for the entire season.”
Will Campbell return timeline
The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that Campbell is expected to miss at least four weeks with his injury and an IR trip is likely as a result.
"New England Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell is expected to miss at least four weeks with a knee injury and will most likely land on injured reserve," she reported on Wednesday.
The biggest concern right now is Campbell making it back in time for the playoffs.
With a 10-2 record, New England is well-positioned to make the playoffs, either by clinching the division title or earning a wild card berth, even without his presence.
Fortunately, the Patriots have five additional games and six weeks remaining prior to the playoffs commencing, providing ample opportunity for Campbell's return.
Should the Patriots clinch the top seed and the AFC bye, Campbell would gain an additional week to recover before New England's playoff debut.
If Campbell is placed on IR before the Week 13 game against the New York Giants and only needs the minimum four weeks, he would be able to return for the Week 18 contest against the Miami Dolphins (New England has a bye in Week 14 and that doesn't count against the four-game minimum).
Ideally, Campbell would return and participate in one regular season game prior to the playoffs, preventing him from shaking off rust during a critical matchup.
Despite the circumstances, Campbell's prospects of returning for The Patriots' initial playoff contest appear favorable.
More NFL injury news
- Will Joe Burrow return for Bengals in Week 13?
- Will Marvin Harrison Jr. Return in Week 13 for Cardinals?
- Will Trey Benson return in Week 13 for Cardinals?
- Will Drake London return in Week 13 for Falcons?
- Will Bucky Irving return in Week 13 for Buccaneers?
- Will Garrett Wilson return in Week 13 for Jets?