It may be the final week of the 2025 regular season, but the New England Patriots just added a pair of game-changers to their 53-man roster.
The news Patriots fans have been waiting for arrived on Saturday, when the team officially activated rookie left tackle Will Campbell and defensive lineman Milton Williams off injured reserve.
With both players carrying no injury designation into the weekend, the roster moves put Campbell and Williams on track to play in Sunday’s Week 18 home game against the Miami Dolphins.
Patriots transactions:
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 3, 2026
🏈 Activated to 53-man roster: OT Will
Campbell, DT Milton Williams
🏈 Released from 53-man roster: DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
🏈 Elevated from practice-squad for Sunday: C/G Brenden Jaimes, DT Leonard Taylor III
After clinching the AFC East division title last week following Buffalo’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, this Dolphins game is no longer a must-win for Mike Vrabel’s crew. Regardless of this week’s results across the league, the Patriots can fall no farther than the No. 3 seed for the upcoming AFC playoffs.
New England does, however, still have an outside chance at clinching the No. 1 seed, which comes with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Patriots need a win over the Dolphins, and a Broncos loss to the Chargers to claim the top spot, a scenario that now feels slim with the Chargers preparing to rest QB Justin Herbert and other starters against Denver.
Still, the Patriots can sew up the No. 2 seed with a win over Miami, and Vrabel just sent a loud message about his team’s approach to Sunday’s game.
Patriots’ massive Will Campbell, Milton Williams decisions down to rest vs. rust
The Patriots probably don’t need their injured stars to beat the Dolphins, who have been better in the second half of the season but notoriously struggle in cold weather. Vrabel’s crew will also face seventh-round rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers in this game.
Saturday’s roster moves are probably more about New England’s upcoming home playoff game, than going all-in on beating its 7-9 division rival.
Campbell hasn’t played a real NFL snap in five-plus weeks, leading teammate Morgan Moses to joke about whether the rookie remembers how to drop into his stance. Williams is in a similar boat, as the team has played it safe with his sprained ankle; he’s been out since suffering the injury on Thursday Night Football in Week 11.
For Vrabel, Week 18 is all about allowing two of the Patriots’ most important players to shake off the rust in what will be a de facto tune-up game for the playoffs. For Campbell, especially, on Drake Maye’s blind side, it’s better for him to find his footing now, than to potentially struggle and give up early pressures against either the Chargers or Bills in next week’s wild-card round.
The Patriots will still be severely short-handed against the Dolphins, with Robert Spillane, Jared Wilson, Khyiris Tonga, and Harold Landry Jr. already ruled out. If anything, that just proves how healthy the team believes both Campbell and Williams are, and getting both players rolling on Sunday could end up being an underrated factor in the team’s upcoming playoff run.