New England’s Week 5 blowout win over the Raiders came with a gut punch on October 11, as their starting left tackle Will Campbell exited the game with a right knee injury that’s already ringing alarm bells for Pats fans. This isn’t just any injury, folks, it’s a brutal repeat of a problem that sidelined him before.
Deja Vu on That Right Knee
Campbell’s injury happened during a running play, when wide receiver Efton Chism III appeared to fall right on his leg. The big tackle was able to walk off the field, initially listed as questionable, but then the Patriots ruled him out for the rest of that Week 5 game. Not good. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the initial observation points to a “knee sprain,” with hopes that it’s not a major injury.
But here’s the kicker: this is the *same knee* where Campbell, who was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, tore his MCL in his rookie season. He missed four games back then, and Rapoport didn’t mince words, saying this new injury “looks almost exactly the same as to what happened last time.” Ouch. That rookie-year injury dramatically affected his performance when he eventually returned, so you know the concern is real in New England.
What’s Next for New England’s O-Line
Campbell is slated for an MRI today, October 12, to confirm the full severity of the injury. There’s no firm timeline from New England yet, but Rapoport made it clear: this injury will “likely cause him to miss some time.” Given the history with this knee, it’s not a shocker.
You gotta wonder what this means for their protection up front, especially as they try to string together some wins. The Patriots are sitting at 3-2 after that Week 5 victory, but don’t forget, their season started with a 13-10 loss to our very own Seahawks in Week 1. They know what it’s like to face a tough defense.
Next up, New England’s got the Jets at home on October 18. They’re gonna need to figure out their O-line situation without Campbell, and quick. You never want to see a player go down, but a repeat injury like this, especially after it messed with his game before, is just a tough pill to swallow for that whole squad. Fans in New England are gonna be glued to that MRI report, hoping for the best but probably bracing for a significant absence. It’s a huge question mark hanging over their season right now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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