Pats' Campbell played through torn knee ligament in playoffs
New England Patriots offensive tackle Will Campbell told reporters Tuesday that he was playing through a torn ligament in his knee during their playoff run, according to MassLive's Mark Daniels.
Although Campbell said he wasn't 100% for the four postseason contests, he emphasized the injury wasn't an excuse for his performance. He was placed on injured reserve in late November due to a knee issue but returned for the Patriots' final regular-season contest.
Campbell allowed 14 pressures in the Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the most in a playoff game since 2018, according to Next Gen Stats. The 22-year-old's 29 pressures surrendered during the playoffs are also the most in postseason history.
"It comes with the job when you don't perform," Campbell said of the criticism he's received after the Super Bowl, per Daniels. "Obviously, I was picked high, paid a lot, so people expect a certain thing, and I expect more myself.
"Whenever I don't perform, I don't expect everyone to be like, 'It's OK, buddy.' I mean, obviously it sucks, but it doesn't suck for anyone more than it sucks for me."
The Patriots' offensive line struggled as a whole against Seattle's defensive front Sunday, allowing six sacks and 11 quarterback hits.
Despite Campbell's problems in the postseason, head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters Tuesday that he's their left tackle of the future, and there's no plan for him to move to a different position on the offensive line.
"Will's 22 years old, he's our left tackle. He'll get better, he'll get stronger," Vrabel said, according to Daniels. "Moments where he played well, moments where he blocked the guy. There's plays he'd like to have back, but we're not moving him to guard, or center, or tight end, or anywhere else."
Campbell was taken fourth overall in the 2025 draft, becoming the first offensive lineman selected. He was the Patriots' Week 1 starter at left tackle, finishing the regular season with 783 offensive snaps played in 13 contests.