Those looking for an answer to Campbell’s postseason regression can point to the knee injury he suffered late in the season.<\/p>\n
Campbell hurt his knee in Week 12 and missed four games before returning for New England’s regular-season finale. He shared Tuesday that he tore a ligament and was not 100% for the playoffs.<\/p>\n
While he stated such an injury is no excuse, it certainly showed in his play. Campbell allowed 29 pressures throughout the playoffs, over half of his regular-season total (51) and the most during a postseason in the Next Gen Stats era. Four of his five worst-graded pass-blocking games by PFF came in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, Campbell was one of several up-and-coming contributors that helped fuel the Patriots turnaround from 4-13 to AFC champions. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 draft, he has an important future ahead in New England no matter the result of one game.<\/p>\n
“I slept on it, I watched it,” he said. “I know what I got to get better at and I’ll move on.”<\/p>\n
Head coach Mike Vrabel, who spoke later on Tuesday, iterated the team’s belief in Campbell.<\/p>\n
“You get judged. You get scrutinized,” Vrabel said. “Will’s 22 years old. He’s our left tackle. He’ll get better. He’ll get stronger. Moments where he played well, moments where he blocked a guy, there’s plays he’d like to have back, but we’re not moving Will to guard or to center or to tight end or to anywhere else.”<\/p>\n