Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots will be missing Milton Williams for a minimum of four games.
The organization officially sent the standout defensive tackle to injured reserve on Saturday afternoon. In a corresponding move, rookie outside linebacker Bradyn Swinson has been signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.
Williams, 26, limped off the field during the opening drive of Thursday night’s 27-14 win over the New York Jets. From there, he headed from the blue medical tent to the locker room before briefly returning to the game. Finishing with eight defensive snaps, the team downgraded the four-year, $104 million March signing to out with a left ankle injury in the fourth quarter.
“I made a decision that we felt like we should probably just start treating that thing, get ahead of it and see where he’s at here tomorrow, the next couple of days and try to weigh — again, he wanted to try to go,” Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said during his postgame press conference.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has since reported that Williams suffered a high ankle sprain. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive lineman will now not be eligible for activation from IR until Week 17, following matchups against Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.
Starting all 11 games this fall in Foxborough, Williams stands with 27 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He has also been credited with eight quarterback hits, seven stops for loss and one batted pass while handling a career-high 60.98 percent of the defensive workload.
Selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft at No. 73 overall, the Louisiana Tech product spent his initial four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and earned a Super Bowl LIX ring last February.
An edge-rusher will be filling the open spot on the active roster.
Swinson, 23, was selected by New England in the fifth round of the 2025 draft class at No. 146 overall. After seeing 96 defensive snaps in August preseason action, the former transfer from Oregon to LSU cleared waivers at the league’s cutdown deadline. He signed to the practice squad at its formation and was recently recognized as a “show team” player of the week.
“He’s really developing and guys like that, younger guys, it takes time, when they get in a rhythm and a routine of things and feel how the NFL is,” outside linebackers coach Mike Smith told reporters in October. “It’s different, obviously, in college. … He’s really starting to grow up and blossom into a good football player.”
From the Ducks to the Tigers, Swinson’s collegiate career spanned 55 games. The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder posted 58 tackles, including 13 for loss, and 8.5 sacks during his final year of eligibility.
The 9-2 Patriots are scheduled to return to Gillette Stadium on Monday.
