After the Patriots’ win over the Jets on Thursday, coach Mike Vrabel said he thought Milton Williams might have been able to return from his first-quarter ankle injury in more urgent circumstances.
But he kept the standout defensive tackle out of the lineup in an attempt to be cautious.
That’s looking even more prudent now.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Williams could be out “multiple weeks” with a high ankle sprain.
Fowler tweeted:
“Patriots DE Milton Williams could miss multiple weeks due to a high ankle sprain, per source. The New England standout left Thursday night’s game vs the Jets and did not return.”
“He wanted to try to go,” Vrabel said afterward. “I made a decision I thought was best for the team.”
Williams appeared to turn his ankle when he stepped on teammate Christian Barmore on the sixth play of the Jets’ opening drive. He went to the sideline, the medical tent, and briefly into the locker room.
Williams returned in the second quarter and tried to play.
Williams, who signed a $104 million contract with the Patriots as a free agent, has been a key part of New England’s NFL-best run defense and a respected leader for the young squad.
The Patriots are at Cincinnati on Nov. 23 and host the Giants on Monday Night Football on Dec. 1. They have their bye on Dec. 7. If Fowler’s timetable is accurate, Williams would be unlikely to return until the showdown against the Bills on Dec. 14.
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