Will Campbell's MCL Sprain Puts Caleb Lomu at Left Tackle as A.J. Brown Nears an IR Return

The Monday MRI answered the question New England was waiting on: left tackle Will Campbell has a sprained MCL in his right knee and is expected to miss some game action, per ESPN. Mike Vrabel said the team will take Campbell's recovery day by day and did not commit to a timeline, which leaves rookie first-round pick Caleb Lomu as the likely starter on Drake Maye's blind side when the 3-2 Patriots host the 2-3 New York Jets on Sunday.

The same week brings a potential boost at receiver. A.J. Brown, on injured reserve since a high-ankle sprain in the Week 1 loss to Seattle, has served the four-game minimum and is eligible to return against the Jets. Vrabel said Monday there is a chance Brown practices this week, though the team has not yet opened his return window.

Where the injuries stand

Sunday's 45-17 win over Las Vegas was costly. TreVeyon Henderson suffered a high-ankle sprain, which Adam Schefter reported will cost him multiple weeks without surgery, and Campbell left in the same stretch of the game. The Patriots also have receiver Mack Hollins on IR with a calf strain and added running back Hassan Haskins to the practice squad on Tuesday for depth.

Early reporting suggests Campbell's injury is less severe than the MCL injury that sidelined him as a rookie in 2025. That is also why an IR stint now looks unlikely: putting him on IR would force a four-game absence, and the Patriots are treating this as something shorter.

Lomu's audition

Lomu stepped in against the Raiders and drew strong reviews from local coverage for how he held up, though that came with a big lead and a defense chasing the game. A full start against a division rival that has a week to prepare is a tougher test. The Patriots invested a first-round pick in him for exactly this kind of situation, but rookie tackles typically face their hardest moments in their first two or three starts as defenses probe them with stunts and games.

The broader point is that Maye is playing at an MVP level. He went 26-of-34 for 374 yards and four touchdowns against Las Vegas, added a rushing score and did not turn the ball over. DeMario Douglas caught two of those touchdowns and Hunter Henry another. An offense this efficient can absorb a protection downgrade, but it is the single most important variable for Maye's weekly floor.

Fantasy fallout

Drake Maye remains a QB1 in Week 6. The Jets matchup and the offense's form outweigh a backup left tackle, but managers should expect more quick throws and fewer long-developing shot plays until Campbell is back.

A.J. Brown is the swing piece. If his window opens and he practices fully by Friday, he could be activated for Sunday, though teams often ease receivers back from high-ankle sprains rather than throwing them into a full snap share. Brown is a hold in every format. He is a speculative start only if he logs a full practice by Friday; otherwise, plan around him for Week 7.

DeMario Douglas is the receiver most affected by Brown's return. He has thrived as a primary option in Brown's absence, and a healthy Brown would pull targets away. Douglas is a WR3 this week if Brown is out and a flex if Brown is active.

Rhamondre Stevenson is the lead back with Henderson out for multiple weeks, a role he held earlier in the season. If the Patriots lean on quick passes and the run game to protect Lomu, Stevenson's volume rises. He is an RB2 against the Jets.

Hunter Henry stays a back-end TE1. Tight ends often absorb extra short targets when a team adjusts protection, and Henry already has a red-zone role in this offense.

Betting angle

The market has New England as a solid home favorite: most listings put the Patriots between -7 and -7.5 with a total in the mid-40s as of Tuesday. That number reflects Maye's last two games more than the injury list, and the key question is whether it fully accounts for a rookie left tackle and a running back change.

A seven-point spread is a particularly sensitive number. Division games tend to be tighter than ratings suggest, and the Jets get a full week to scheme pressure against Lomu. If Brown is activated, though, the Patriots' passing game gains a true No. 1 receiver, which pushes the other way. The practical read is that Brown's practice participation this week is the news most likely to move this line, and anyone interested in the Patriots side is better served waiting to see whether his window opens. Verdexed's game probabilities live at /nfl/predictions, and the full Week 6 card is at /blog/nfl-week-6-picks-2026.

What to do in your league

1. Keep Drake Maye in your lineup. A backup tackle lowers his floor slightly, not his role. 2. Hold A.J. Brown and check Wednesday through Friday practice reports for his window opening. 3. Start Rhamondre Stevenson as an RB2 while Henderson is out. 4. Play DeMario Douglas as a WR3 if Brown is not activated, and downgrade him to a flex if Brown is. 5. Stash Henderson only in deeper leagues; a multiple-week high-ankle sprain means he is unlikely to help in the next couple of weeks.

What's next

The Patriots' Wednesday injury report will show whether Campbell is doing any work, and whether Brown's practice window has opened. If Campbell can practice in a limited capacity by the end of the week, a return within a game or two is realistic. If not, Lomu likely gets multiple starts, and the Patriots' play-calling will show how much they trust him.

For Brown, the opening of his window starts a 21-day clock for activation, so the decision can come later than Sunday. New England has won two straight without him, which gives the team every reason to be patient with its most important pass catcher.