Pro Football Rumors
The playoffs are locked up, and the Patriots’ final game of the season is at home against a depleted Dolphins team. As they attempt to secure their highest win total since 2016 and a chance at the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC side of the playoff bracket, they will bring in some reinforcements. New England announced today that it has activated defensive tackle Milton Williams and left tackle Will Campbell from injured reserve.
Williams suffered the high ankle sprain that landed him on IR back in Week 11 but only had his 21-day practice window opened last week. The former Eagle’s debut season in New England was off to a hot start as he was tracking for potential career-highs in sacks, tackles for loss, and quarterback hits.
When he was lost to injury, Williams wasn’t the only defender to suffer from the loss; fellow interior defender Christian Barmore saw far more double teams with Williams not there to worry about. Williams’ return to the lineup should make big differences to the effectiveness of the Pats’ defensive line just in time for the playoffs.
Campbell, the team’s rookie No. 4 overall pick this year, had arguably been living up to his draft stock as the 2025 draft class’s best offensive tackle this year. Manning the starting job on the blindside in New England, Campbell’s tape from his 12 starts this year grade him out as the league’s 33rd-best tackle, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He was placed on IR after suffering a knee injury in Week 12, but after returning to practice this week and fully participating in three sessions, he’s proven he’s ready to return to the starting lineup.
The Patriots already had one open roster spot, so they just needed to waive defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. in order to make room for the two returning starters. The team also announced that center Brenden Jaimes and defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III will serve as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the team’s regular season finale.
