Concerns have popped up in New England Patriots Training Camp. This comes after starting left tackle Will Campbell was seen wearing a massive arm brace on his left arm.
Campbell was still at practice on Thursday with that brace on. However, he was much more limited and sat out of the competitive team periods.
The brace first went on during Wednesday’s walkthrough. Prior to that, there hadn’t been much indication that Campbell was battling any injuries. So, it was a bit of a surprise to see.
This is particularly concerning as Campbell is working to develop and become more reliable in his second NFL season. As a rookie, he had been solid, if not always consistent, before suffering a knee injury that derailed him.
New England Patriots HC Mike Vrabel Says Will Campbell Should be Back Soon
GettyNew England Patriots left tackle Will Campbell
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel met with media members on Friday morning. There, he was able to share that it’s not a serious injury that’s keeping Will Campbell limited.
Vrabel was also able to set a timeline for Campbell coming back. After the weekend, the expectation is that Campbell will be back working at full strength.
“I think he’ll be ready to go after the weekend,” Vrabel said. That’s despite also noting that Campbell won’t be practicing on Friday.
One thing that still isn’t clear is exactly what type of injury Campbell is dealing with right now. It’s safe to say that the Patriots are being cautious with him, but if it was anything worse, it’s not likely that Vrabel would suggest a timeline for when he should be back on the field.
Patriots First-Round Pick Caleb Lomu Didn’t Replace Will Campbell
GettyNew England Patriots first-round pick Caleb Lomu
The Patriots used their 2026 first-round pick on another left tackle, Caleb Lomu. The plan, seemingly, has been to have him sit and learn for a year, acting as a swing tackle and backup.
Things might be changing now, though. It hasn’t been Lomu who has replaced Campbell in practice. Instead, 2025 seventh-round pick Marcus Bryant would reportedly receive the “first call” to replace him.
Interestingly, this comes shortly after Mike Vrabel suggested that Lomu could get some work at guard. This comes as depth at guard has become a concern during Training Camp.
“There will be a time when you guys see Caleb work in there,” Vrabel said. “So, just looking to find the best combination of guys for the season. So, I think we’re okay. I think the depth can always be better at every position. Just continue to build competition and finding the right mix of guys that are going to help us this year.”
Long-term, it still looks like the plan is for Lomu to eventually replace Morgan Moses at right tackle. However, it’s been a difficult transition to the NFL for Lomu, and he’s far from a finished product. That’s likely why the Patriots aren’t kicking him to left tackle to replace Campbell, as it’s more important to get him reps at what they hope to make his permanent home along the offensive line.
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