Patriots’ Win Over Jets Comes at a Cost

The New England Patriots, currently leading the AFC East, secured a victory against the Jets on Thursday, but it wasn’t without some setbacks.

According to reports, defensive tackle Milton Williams may be out for several weeks due to a high ankle sprain he incurred during the Patriots’ 27-14 win.

Williams, recently signed to a four-year, $104 million contract after joining from the Eagles, was hurt in the first quarter. Although he attempted to return late in the first half, he was ultimately sidelined for the remainder of the game.

“We thought it would be best to start treatment right away and monitor his condition over the next few days,” stated Patriots coach Mike Vrabel after the game. “He was eager to go, but I felt it was better for the team to hold him out.”

At 26, Williams has had a strong start to his season in Foxboro, making 27 tackles and 3.5 sacks as the Patriots, with a 9-2 record, prepare for an upcoming road game against the Bengals.

With Williams on board, the Patriots have impressively allowed just 84.7 rushing yards per game this season—a league low.

Prior to joining the Patriots, Williams played four seasons with the Eagles, including one where he clinched a Super Bowl title, accumulating 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles across 67 games.

Should Williams miss the next game in Cincinnati, the Patriots might have to depend on backup options like Kyris Tonga, Corey Darden, or Joshua Farmer to fill in on the defensive line.