CINCINNATI — Sometimes a win can feel like a loss.
That was the case Sunday, when the Patriots saw left tackle Will Campbell (knee) and left guard Jared Wilson (ankle) leave the 26-20 win over the Bengals with injuries.
Campbell and Wilson were both taken to the locker room on carts after getting checked out by Patriots trainers in the team’s blue medical tent.
Wilson, who’s started 11 of 12 games this season, was wearing a walking boot on his right foot and walking with a crutch in the locker room after the game.
Campbell, who has started every game in his rookie season, was not spotted in the locker room, but he wore a towel, hooded and covering his face as he was carted to the tunnel.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel didn’t have an update on any of the players’ injuries after the game.
“I appreciate you guys all talking about the injuries this week, so, thanks,” Vrabel said sarcastically, referencing stories written about the team’s injury luck through the first 11 weeks of the season.
“Injuries are part of the game,” Vrabel said later.
Ben Brown replaced Wilson at left guard, and Vederian Lowe finished the game at left tackle in place of Campbell. Rookie Marcus Bryant also entered Sunday’s game briefly for starter Morgan Moses, who left with an illness before returning.
Campbell has been living up to his first-round billing this season as Drake Maye’s blindside protector. He’s allowed five sacks on the season, but none since the Patriots’ Week 9 win over the Falcons.
Wilson has steadily improved as the season has gone along and was coming off the best game of his career in Week 11.
“Shoot, I love those guys,” Maye said of Campbell and Wilson. “They’re going to be all right. That’s the big thing about those guys. They work hard, and they’re going to be back, and they’ve done such a good job for us this year, man. I love those guys. Will and Jared have meant a lot to me. We’ve got to know them in different ways. And yeah, it hurts. It’s disappointing, man. That’s this game. That’s life, and they’ll bounce back and help us down the road.”
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs is hoping for the best for the Patriots’ two rookie starters.
“I hope he’s back,” Diggs said of Campbell. “I hope it’s not as bad as we think.”
Diggs expressed a similar sentiment when talking about Wilson later, as well.
The Patriots’ reshaped offensive line has been a major strength for the team this season compared to last year.
Now, the Patriots might need to rely on Lowe and Brown, who were part of last year’s starting group, over the final five weeks of the season and a potential playoff run.
Center Garrett Bradbury said he’s hopeful that the two rookies will lean on the veterans in the room and he knows “the training room is going to do a great job and get them back out there as soon as they can.”
Lowe started 13 games for the Patriots in 2024, while Brown started 10 games at center.
The Patriots rank 12 in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency metric this season, while they ranked 31st in 2024 with constant turnover due to injuries and poor performance. The Patriots also added Moses and center Garrett Bradbury this offseason.
Lowe called Campbell a “hell of a player” and said his injury “definitely sucks.” He said he felt comfortable both being thrust into action Sunday and in the Patriots’ offense.
“Ever since I came back from injury, I’ve been working with the guys and learning the ins and outs of the playbook, nuances of what our coaches want and everything,” Lowe said. “I’m a professional. When my number is called, I want to make sure I go out there and perform, and that’s what I’m going to do no matter what the circumstances are.”
Brown said he felt “horrible” for Wilson, and said, “Jared has done some awesome things this year.”
He said Vrabel’s message to “prepare as a starter every week” resonated when he entered the game.
It’s rare for all eight active offensive linemen to be called into duty in a game. Lowe said it showed the group’s resiliency.
“There’s some stuff we could have done a little bit better, especially me, too,” Brown said. “But just being ready for whenever our time comes.”
Bradbury added: “We’re a close group. We pride ourselves on the way we work and also what we know. I think the coaches do a good job of preparing everyone. But yeah, it’s whatever it takes. It’s next man up, and we want those guys to get back and be healthy, and that’s the ultimate goal. But I’m proud of the way the guys stepped up.”
Special-teams captain Brenden Schooler (ankle) also left the game and didn’t return. He was spotted in the locker room with a walking boot on his left foot. Defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (chest) also left the game. Tonga was listed as questionable and remained on the bench in the second half.
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