Patriots LT Will Campbell: Vrabel offers no timetable after knee injury
The Patriots are taking the week one day at a time with left tackle Will Campbell, whose knee injury cut short his Sunday. Coach Mike Vrabel offered no timetable Monday, saying the team will "see how the week goes" before knowing how much…
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The Patriots are taking the week one day at a time with left tackle Will Campbell, whose knee injury cut short his Sunday. Coach Mike Vrabel offered no timetable Monday, saying the team will "see how the week goes" before knowing how much time Campbell might miss.
Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet): Coach Mike Vrabel: "We'll see how the week goes. ... Wasn't able to finish the game, so I don't know how much time he'll miss or if he'll be back towards the end of the week."
Campbell went down on a toss play and was ruled out for the remainder of the game against the Raiders, with an MRI scheduled to determine the severity. Vrabel's cautious language is consistent with the initial belief that Campbell suffered a knee sprain, but the exact recovery window remains unsettled.
The immediate answer at left tackle appears to be first-rounder Caleb Lomu, who replaced Campbell after the injury and handled the rest of the game. Lomu is in line to keep that spot if Campbell cannot go, giving the Patriots a rookie-for-rookie swap at the most important spot on the offensive line.
The timing is awkward for New England, which has two games in the next 11 days. Vrabel also said there is a chance wide receiver A.J. Brown could begin practicing this week, another piece of the roster puzzle the team will manage on a short timeline.
Campbell's MRI results will drive the decision, and the Patriots' next practice will begin to answer whether Lomu gets an extended run of first-team work or Campbell returns to the lineup quickly.