Drake Maye has taken off in his second year in the NFL, leading the New England Patriots to a 10-2 start that has them back in first place in the AFC East, six seasons removed from their last division title.
But the breakout quarterback will be without his blindside protector until at least Week 18.
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The Patriots are placing placing left tackle Will Campbell on injured reserve and signing cornerback Miles Battle to the 53-man roster, head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters Wednesday.
Campbell, this year’s No. 4 overall pick, had to be carted off in the third quarter of a Week 12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals with a knee injury, which NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday is believed to be an MCL sprain.
While on IR, Campbell will have to miss at least four games. Because the Patriots have a Week 14 bye, that means the soonest the LSU product can return is the regular-season finale against the Miami Dolphins.
The injury occurred as Campbell pulled on a 4-yard run to the left side of the field, where his right leg was landed on at the end of the play.
Campbell wasn’t the only Patriots offensive lineman to go down during their 26-20 victory in Cincinnati. In the first quarter, left guard Jared Wilson was carted off with an ankle injury and, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, was seen leaving Paycor Stadium with a boot on his right foot.
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Vrabel said Wednesday that Wilson won’t practice this week or play against the New York Giants on Monday night. For now, Wilson remains on the active roster, as there’s hope that his recovery time will be shorter than Campbell’s.
Wilson is expected to be replaced by Ben Brown. The plan is for Vederian Lowe to fill in for Campbell at left tackle, although backup right tackle Marcus Bryant “has to be ready to go,” Vrabel said.
It’s also important to note that the Patriots signed Thayer Munford Jr. off the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad. Munford, a 2022 seventh-round pick out of Ohio State, briefly spent time with New England earlier this year.
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“Well, he was here,” Vrabel said, when asked what stuck out about Munford. “Again, guys, at this point of time in the season, there’s only so many options. I mean, this is what it is.
“He was here. He was somebody that learned our system and has been working. Felt like this gives us some options here with the guys that we have and then bringing him in as well.”
The loss of Campbell is a big one for a Patriots team that still has to play the Buffalo Bills again, as well as the surging Baltimore Ravens, next month.
Getting him back before the postseason, though, would be a win for New England.
