Will Campbell injury update: Patriots rookie OL lands on injured reserve, will miss at least four games
Campbell, the No. 4 overall pick, has played 98.3% of the Patriots' offensive snaps this season
New England Patriots rookie offensive tackle Will Campbell will be placed on injured reserve, coach Mike Vrabel told reporters on Wednesday. He will miss the next four games -- meaning Campbell can't return until the regular-season finale against the Miami Dolphins since the Patriots have their bye coming up in Week 14.
Campbell, the No. 4 overall pick, was carted off the field with a knee injury during Sunday's 26-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. He went down in the third quarter, and was officially ruled out in the fourth quarter. After another player landed on Campbell's leg, he entered the medical tent and later departed for the locker room on a cart. He put a towel over his head as he exited the field. According to NFL Media, the team believes the rookie suffered an MCL sprain.
Campbell played 695 offensive snaps, or 98.3% of the Patriots' offensive plays, this year before going down with the injury.
The Patriots were already down an offensive lineman when Campbell left the game. Left guard Jared Wilson departed from the contest in the first quarter with an ankle injury. According to ESPN Research, Wilson and Campbell were only the second rookie duo to open a season as starters at left guard and left tackle since 2000.
Veteran tackle Vederian Lowe and veteran guard Ben Brown came in to replace the injured linemen.
The Patriots have remained relatively healthy this year and started the same offensive line for 10 of their 11 games. Quarterback Drake Maye, who is in the MVP conversation, has benefited from the offensive line's consistency.
Now 10-2 after the win over the Bengals, the Patriots will return to action against the New York Giants on "Monday Night Football."
