The New England Patriots have arguably been the biggest surprise of the NFL season so far, following their 27-14 victory over the New York Jets on Thursday night.
Led by first-year head coach Mike Vrabel and second-year quarterback Drake Maye, the Patriots are now 9-2, holding the best record in the league and a clear lead over the Buffalo Bills atop the AFC East—a division the Bills have dominated since Tom Brady’s departure from New England.
However, some concerning injury news emerged on Saturday. Star defensive tackle Milton Williams, who signed a four-year, $104 million deal with the Patriots this offseason, could miss multiple games after leaving Thursday’s matchup with an ankle injury, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
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Mike Vrabel addressed Milton Williams’ injury after the game and sounded optimistic while explaining why the team didn’t risk bringing him back onto the field.
“I made a decision that we felt like we should probably just start treating that thing and get ahead of it,” Vrabel said postgame Thursday. “See where he’s at here tomorrow, the next couple of days and try to weigh — again, he wanted to try to go.
“He’s out here standing with me when guys are coming in, and he’s excited for them, so I appreciate his leadership, but I just made a decision that I felt was best for the team for his instance.”
Williams has been the anchor of the Patriots’ defensive line this season. He’s recorded 14 combined tackles, 3.5 sacks, and has started all 11 games for New England.
If he does miss multiple weeks, it would likely mean he sits out next week’s showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals and potentially the following week against the New York Giants. The Patriots then enter their bye week, which could allow Williams to return afterward if his ankle is stable enough to play.
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