Patriots Injury News Campbell Says He's Been Playing with a Torn Ligament in His Knee

[PatriotSpy]

Period, at least TRY something else. You know you're losing with what you are currently doing. I cannot stand losing while making no adjustments. If we try different things and lose okay fine... But making no adjustments when you see something is clearly not working is infuriating.

I said it before, they had a 3 alarm fire on the left side and didn’t do anything about it. The rookies were getting abused.

It’s like a battle right. You got a flank that’s being overrun. You don’t want to get outflanked by the bad guys right, you have to do something. Ignoring it is malpractice. You have options, you can A. Add reinforcements. B. Pound that side with Artillery or C. Call in an air strike. Maybe it’s A and B or it’s A and C. Point is, a decision is made to secure a vital point in your battle line.

Our so called battlefield commanders have the luxury of respawning so to speak with each play. Each play is a battle in and of itself and the problem is presenting itself again and again. Decisions needed to be made. A. Reinforce the left side with an extra blocker. B. Replace the LT and LG. C. Combination of A and B.

They did nothing and couldn’t adjust to the tactics used by Seattle. It’s malpractice.

Having said that, I like Vrabel. I like McDaniels. This team overachieved this year and we’re lucky to have them as coaches. We lost to a talented team on both sides of the ball. Who knows for sure if we would have won if we replaced Campbell and Wilson. I just would hate to go into the offseason with regret or what ifs if I was a coach. Being afraid of hurting a rookie’s feelings is just so new age to me.

 

[Real fan 02]

Playing him in the playoffs when he’s not 100%, ok I get that. But once he showed he was ineffective, they should have pivoted. Him being a rookie should have made it an easier decision.

Back in December I posted that the RG3 situation should have been deep on Vrabel's mind.. Shanahan ruined his career playing him with the same injury..

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

The reason that I am on the David Edwards train is because I can't take another year of Wilson at LG.

I understand. Which LG - Center combo is preferred?

Wilson - Linderbaum
Edwards - Bradbury
Edwards - Wilson
Campbell - Linderbaum

I think Campbell - Linderbaum is the best by a mile. Now we can run the ball inside the tackles.

On defense we are strongest inside the tackles and on the OL I think we should have the same approach.

 

[ALP]

It was evident for weeks, and especially after the sb, but even more so now: vrabels biggest weakness is a fear to sit underperforming guys on the bench

 

[Schmo]

It was evident for weeks, and especially after the sb, but even more so now: vrabels biggest weakness is a fear to sit underperforming guys on the bench

Counterpoint: Mondre

He was at a weak point, Vrabel stuck with him when BB would have benched him, and he ended up being one of the biggest reasons for our success this year.

 

[Real fan 02]

I understand. Which LG - Center combo is preferred?

Wilson - Linderbaum
Edwards - Bradbury
Edwards - Wilson
Campbell - Linderbaum

I think Campbell - Linderbaum is the best by a mile. Now we can run the ball inside the tackles.

On defense we are strongest inside the tackles and on the OL I think we should have the same approach.

Braden Smith at RT & Joe Biotinio would be a good option as well..

 

[VJCPatriot]

I saw the video posted of all the dropbacks, and you're right, it wasn't quite as bad as it seemed initially. His biggest issue is he relies so much on his footwork, which is why he was solid throughout the season before he got hurt. But it's tough because it just makes his margin for error that much smaller. Although, like any other player - and we saw it throughout Scarnecchia's time here - guys can develop, get stronger, and improve.

I'm sure he'll be a different player 2-3 seasons from now, and while he's not an elite left tackle, when healthy, he's still better than a lot of other guys at his position. I think it looked worse just because how badly Wilson got manhandled ... that was rough. He needs to get stronger this offseason, even if he does eventually end up playing center.

I think it's an even worse issue for Campbell because he lacks elite upper body strength to win hand fights against defensive ends. So when his legs go he loses the tool he was using to stay even with pass rushers up to that point.

I know he was playing injured but a lot of players do that in the NFL. And he wasn't even close to competent during the playoffs. Even at full health I think he will still struggle against elite playoff caliber edge players because he lacks elite physical attributes to counter them.

To me Campbell still projects better as a guard than an LT. It's just very hard to find good left tackles in the NFL. If we can move up in the 1st to land a true left tackle in the upcoming draft I feel like we need to give up that draft capital to do so. If we can upgrade on Campbell and kick him inside to guard, then Wilson to center, the entire offensive line gets better as a domino effect.

 

[Ross12]

Falls right into my plan to sign David Edwards at LG and letting Bradburry and Wilson fight it out at Center.

I talked to someone else in this thread or another, I want to say it was @mike_usagisan, but we came to basically the same conclusion - sign David Edwards or another higher end LG and then let Wilson and Bradbury battle for the starting C job. Worst-case scenario is Bradbury keeps his job and then you are two deep at backup IOL that can cover both guard and center with Wilson and Brown; best-case scenario is Wilson wins the job and you can cut Bradbury to save the first year's worth of cap hit that you paid to your new left guard.

 

[Joey007]

That's one of my big questions for next year. Do they see Wilson as the center or do they think Bradbury is better, and then what do they do with Wilson?

I’d say let him marinate for another year. Keep him as a backup that’s capable of playing both center and guard.

Heck, if he really improves, maybe he beats Bradbury out at center.

 

[Ross12]

Braden Smith at RT & Joe Biotinio would be a good option as well..

Smith is a solid option at RT but he has injury issues. They would have to have a decent backup option. Hopefully Bryant can handle that duty in year 2. Maybe 3 years/$40M with not too much of it guaranteed. You could cut Moses to recoup around $3.1M in cap. He will probably not want to stay on as a backup and may be able to find a starting gig elsewhere.

Bitonio is solid but getting old. He would be lower on my list of options but still a decent option.

 

[Triumph]

Campbell still had the same problems pre injury that everyone witnessed last Sunday.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I’d say let him marinate for another year. Keep him as a backup that’s capable of playing both center and guard.

Heck, if he really improves, maybe he beats Bradbury out at center.

I think they view Brown as the backup IOL and Wilson as a starter... somewhere. Vrabel talked yesterday (or the day before) about how the NFL is built on finding younger, cheaper guys, and I think that's going to be the call at center.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Campbell still had the same problems pre injury that everyone witnessed last Sunday.

Right, but a lot of that (according to the "experts" on Twitter) is strength and technique, which both can be improved for a 21 year old rookie.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Smith is a solid option at RT but he has injury issues. They would have to have a decent backup option. Hopefully Bryant can handle that duty in year 2. Maybe 3 years/$40M with not too much of it guaranteed. You could cut Moses to recoup around $3.1M in cap. He will probably not want to stay on as a backup and may be able to find a starting gig elsewhere.

Bitonio is solid but getting old. He would be lower on my list of options but still a decent option.

Unless they think Moses is going to fall apart, I think the ride with him one more year, well, unless they draft a RT. If Bryant got passed up by Munford during the season, Munford will probably be back to be the backup RT and jumbo extra O lineman again. The hope has to be that either he or Bryant can become the starter once Moses is done.

 

[mike_usagisan]

To me Campbell still projects better as a guard than an LT. It's just very hard to find good left tackles in the NFL. If we can move up in the 1st to land a true left tackle in the upcoming draft I feel like we need to give up that draft capital to do so. If we can upgrade on Campbell and kick him inside to guard, then Wilson to center, the entire offensive line gets better as a domino effect.

Vrabel already said that they're not doing that, at least not in 2026.

 

[Toofy]

Campbell would probably improve upper core strength so that he is not dependent completely on his legs. Anticipate him to become even better this season.

I am not worried about Campbell . More so about Maye . Can he improve on the intangibles which are the difference between a stud QB and a good QB . How fast can he process the coverages and make changes. When to take a sack. When to throw a screen, when to throw away. I hope Maye develops those.

Let's hope both of em improve and the only gap is a LG . That's easier to solve.

 

[Rob0729]

I saw a breakdown on Campbell online. It showed he was getting mauled when he sat and waited for Witherspoon to rush from the outside to get to him, but when he moved towards Witherspoon and engaged him going forward he won the battle. Campbell has technique issues he needs to work on, as well as his strength. He cannot stand and wait for top pass rushers to come to him because he will get outpowered. He needs to engage them going forwards.

Otherwise, he needs to transition to guard. It isn't his arm length that is an issue, it is his lack of strength that is his real problem.

 

[Real fan 02]

Smith is a solid option at RT but he has injury issues. They would have to have a decent backup option. Hopefully Bryant can handle that duty in year 2. Maybe 3 years/$40M with not too much of it guaranteed. You could cut Moses to recoup around $3.1M in cap. He will probably not want to stay on as a backup and may be able to find a starting gig elsewhere.

Bitonio is solid but getting old. He would be lower on my list of options but still a decent option.

Thanks for that Ross good info as always ! Does Wyatt teller do anything for you?

Moses is a huge locker room leader and really played well this season.. age and injuries come with him as well.. I too hope that Bryant could continue to develop and be the eventual RT.. old friend vederian lowe can also play on the right side as well.. I think lowe has overcome his issues and can be a solid option for us.. on the line in general..

We need to sure up our own guys we value as well as seek FAs.

 

[Real fan 02]

Campbell still had the same problems pre injury that everyone witnessed last Sunday.

Funny thing is Campbell was rock solid prior to injury.. i think his best game this season was the week 5 at Buffalo game he was body slamming guys essentially..

It's clear to see he wasn't healthy and shouldn't had been out there..

 

[p8ryts]

They better be very careful with this offensive line situation, the last thing you want this leaky line in the playoffs to continue against a harder schedule next year then all of a sudden your QB is banged up and then next thing you know is he's missing games and derailing seasons.

Learn from what has happened to Joe Burrow, the one way to derail the entire franchise and end up back at the bottom is getting your quarterback hit and hurt.

This is the #1 lesson to be learned and it's going to be a steep climb. Onwenu and Bradbury are not all stars but were generally competent. Moses the same but aging rapidly. To be optimistic, Campbell and Wilson get stronger and become adequate in their second year, things could improve significantly. BUT, if they don't Maye could turn into David Carr.