Besides the fact that they were able to sneak out a win in Cincinnati on Sunday, the biggest story surrounding the New England Patriots after beating the Bengals in Week 12 is the number of injuries the team suffered, which could play a crucial role in how the remainder of the year unfolds.
The biggest losses came on the offensive side of the ball, as rookie starting lineman Jared Wilson exited the game after the first series. He is reportedly dealing with a high-ankle sprain that should keep him sidelined for up to six weeks, while Will Campbell suffered an MCL sprain, which could have him return a bit sooner.
Given that Wilson has been used at multiple positions this season, his absence will be just as problematic as Campbell's as the starting left tackle. And unfortunately, Mike Vrabel doesn't scream confident with who they have available to replace them.
Vederian Lowe was one of the players to fill in on the offensive line during Sunday's matchup, and based on the head coach's latest comments, it appears he will remain there moving forward. The problem is that Vrabel doesn't come off too thrilled about it.
Patriots HC Mike Vrabel: "I thought Vederian had a couple good plays."
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) November 24, 2025
Says Vederian Lowe was, for the most part, ready for his opportunity.
Because Campbell was excelling so early in his career and is clearly the next franchise left tackle for the Patriots, a role they have failed to fill for far too long, it won't be easy for Lowe to just jump in there and replicate the kind of performance the rookie has accomplished.
But the lack of a clear answer from Vrabel hasn't settled fans' concerns about his fitness for the job, after a roller coaster 2024 season saw him lose the starting job.
The Patriots' offensive line might be more of a problem than initially thought
While speaking to reporters on Monday morning, Vrabel further commented on the situation when asked about considering another rookie at left tackle, Marcus Bryant, instead of Lowe.
He didn't provide much clarity on the situation, prompting more questions than answers, and he didn't seem too confident in what he was saying.
Mike Vrabel was asked if he’ll continue using Vederian Lowe at left tackle in the absence of Will Campbell, or if he would consider using Marcus Bryant in that spot:
— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) November 24, 2025
“I don’t know if I would have an accurate answer for you right now. Probably go through the week of… pic.twitter.com/hThMx23uD1
Given the severity of the hole Campbell will leave, it's understandable that Vrabel isn't immediately certain who the best replacement will be. But at the same time, his monotone response isn't going to settle the conversation from analysts and fans with growing concerns about the state of the offensive line.
That will only intensify in the coming days, especially since their next game is a primetime against the Giants on Monday night.
It will be another test for the Patriots to see if they can overcome, and it will be a familiar situation for Drake Maye, who dealt with a less-than-stout offensive line during his rookie season last year.