TL;DR
- New England Patriots rookie Will Campbell placed on injured reserve due to knee injury.
- Campbell's MCL sprain is less severe than initially feared, avoiding season-ending diagnosis.
- He is sidelined for a minimum of four games, with earliest return Week 18 versus Miami Dolphins.
- Campbell's readiness for playoffs is the primary concern, with potential return shortly after eligibility.
The New England Patriots have made the decision everyone expected them to with rookie left tackle Will Campbell.
Mike Vrabel, the head coach, announced on Wednesday that the Patriots' rookie left tackle is being placed on injured reserve because of a knee injury sustained in Week 12.
"Mike Vrabel said the Patriots will place Will Campbell on injured reserve," The Athletic's Chad Graff relayed.
Reports indicated that Campbell was diagnosed with an MCL sprain, which was a welcome development given the initial belief that Campbell had sustained a season-ending injury after he appeared visibly upset while being transported to the locker room.
Looking ahead, how long can we expect Campbell to be out?
Here's what we know.
What's the duration of Will Campbell's absence?
As Campbell is now on injured reserve, the Patriots' rookie player is sidelined for a minimum of the upcoming four contests.
Given the Pats' Week 14 bye (which doesn't count towards the four-week limit), Campbell's earliest possible return is Week 18 versus the Miami Dolphins.
Fortunately, this timeframe permits his return for the initial playoff match, though it's crucial to acknowledge that Campbell's readiness after the four-week minimum isn't assured.
Earlier today, The Athletic's Dianna Russini stated that Campbell's absence would be at least four weeks, suggesting he might not be back when first eligible.
However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport adds that Campbell "sounds like he'll be able to return shortly after he's eligible to do so," so that's great news.
Ideally, Campbell would return for Week 18 to help him shed some of the rust from missing four games, but the primary concern is his availability for the playoffs.
The Patriots hold the top spot in the AFC and will secure a first-round bye if they maintain their position through the remainder of the season.
Achieving that feat would also give Campbell more time to return before the first playoff game if his absence extends beyond the minimum four games.
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