Patriots Will Campbell Injury: Medical Expert Gives Blunt Opinion on Status
The New England Patriots won their ninth straight game on Sunday, albeit in ugly fashion, pressing past the Cincinnati Bengals 26-20 at PayCor Stadium. The win raised the Patriots’ record to an NFL-best 10-2, giving them, at least for now, the top spot in the AFC playoff seedings — an impressive showing for a team that won just four games last season, and four the season before that.
But while the six-time Super Bowl champs will take it, the victory came at a steep and painful price. The Patriots lost three key players to injuries including two important members of the offensive line whose pass-rush protection has allowed sophomore quarterback Drake Maye to lead the NFL in passing yards (2,836 prior to Sunday) and passer rating among QBs who have started at least eight games (113.2).
The Patriots lost left guard Jared Wilson early in the game to an ankle injury. Wilson was seen after the game leaving the PayCor Stadium visitors’ locker room wearing a walking boot.
Concerning Injury to No. 4 Draft Pick
But even more concerning was the injury to rookie left tackle Will Campbell, the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft. Campbell left the game in the third quarter with what appeared to be a knee injury.
“The first-round draft pick remained on the ground following a TreVeyon Henderson run, receiving medical assistance on the field,” reported Bernd Buchmasser of Pats Pulpit. “While he did slowly walk off under his own power, Campbell was carted to the locker room after a brief stint in the blue medical tent.”
But after being examined in the blue medical tent, Campbell was seen sitting on a cart apparently in an emotional state with a towel over his head, concealing his facial expression. The cart then drove him to the locker room. According to a report by
Doctor: Campbell Out As Long as 8 Weeks
While Patriots coach Mike Vrabel offered no update or information on Campbell in his postgame press availability, sports injury expert and former NFL team physician Dr. David J. Chao of
However, Chao said that in his opinion, Campbell suffered an injury to his medial collateral ligament, or MCL, the major ligament on the inner knee.
“While we do not know the severity of the injury at this time, recovery timelines for a right MCL injury vary widely,” Chao wrote on the Sports Injury Central site. “Mild sprains often require 2-4 weeks, while more significant tears can take 6-8 weeks or longer. With Campbell potentially missing multiple weeks, the injury is clearly more than day-to-day but does not currently appear season-ending, and the Patriots medical staff will monitor his progress closely.”
Maye Believes Campbell, Wilson Will Be Back
It should be noted that Chao’s opinion is based only on his examination of video, and is not an official update from the Patriots.
But based on Chao’s opinion, Campbell could be back as soon as Week 17 when the Patriots play their second game against the New York Jets.
For what it’s worth, Maye also offered an optimistic assessment of the injuries to both Campbell and Wilson.
“They’ll bounce back and help us down the road,” Maye told the media, as quoted by Boston Herald reporter Doug Kyed.
Steelers’ Omar Khan Refuses to Add Receiver, Citing Lack of Trust in Offensive System
The Pittsburgh Steelers have entered a Week 5 bye in great shape within the tough AFC North division. The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals have been decimated by injuries, while the
While Austin's injury isn't expected to be a long-term problem for the Steelers' offense, it wouldn't hurt Pittsburgh to acquire another pass-catching option as a whole, regardless.
General Manager Omar Khan has been very aggressive during his tenure as the organization's front office lead, but has been relatively quiet since the blockbuster trade that brought Smith to Pittsburgh in late June. On Thursday,
"The other vibe I got was they're having a hard enough time feeding Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth. I just think adding another guy to the mix, even if Austin is out for a couple games, I just think it would complicated things, especially if it's just another guy," Fittipaldo said. "You know, [Tim] Patrick at this point in his career, or pretty much anyone you're going to get for a late-round pick is going to be just another guy."
Fittipaldo does make a good point overall, but the key word he used early in his analysis was that he is getting that "vibe" from the franchise. Pittsburgh doesn't really have a dynamic offense just yet, and bringing someone in during October or later could make things more difficult. In essence, the Steelers may not be looking to acquire another playmaker because there isn't enough trust within the scheme to get the current guys the ball at a consistent enough rate.
Things can change at any moment, but it does seem as if Pittsburgh has enough talent on the offensive end. The main issue has been getting the ball into the hands of the most dynamic individuals. If trading for someone just to trade for someone was on the agenda, it might make things worse in the locker room. The problem with that notion is that it would indirectly imply that the Steelers' decision-makers don't think the current group is meshing just yet.
Metcalf had a breakout game in Week 4, but several other players have yet to really gel with Rodgers under center. It takes time for a group with so many new faces to be clicking on all cylinders, and due to the team's 3-1 start, it may not make sense internally to go out and acquire someone. This could change if Austin misses a couple of games and no one is stepping up in the receiving game for Rodgers.
Steelers Are In No Rush To Make Big Changes After Positive Start To 2025 Season
Despite not looking phenomenal in any of the four games, Pittsburgh has placed itself in the driver's seat in the AFC North. If the belief is that a bye week and another pregame preparation period will help the unit come together, there is no reason for Khan and co. to explore a trade just yet. It is a little unsettling if the front office is hesitant to move on a potential deal, however, because there isn't even trust in the group as it stands entering Week 5.
