Milton

Williams

Williams suffered a high-ankle sprain on Thursday versus the Jets. Per Rapoport, he is expected to return in 4-6 weeks. He will miss at least four games while on injured reserve. Williams has 3.5 sacks and 35 pressures this year. He was one of the Patriots’ big-ticket signings in free agency in the offseason.

Williams is dealing with a high-ankle sprain, according to Fowler. The typical recovery time of a high-ankle sprain is 3-6 weeks. Fowler didn’t give a firm timetable or mention the possibility of Williams going on injured reserve, which would keep him out for four games. At this point, it’s safe to assume Williams will miss at least 2-3 games and the Patriots’ run defense takes a significant hit without him.

Williams exited in the first quarter and was listed as questionable. Despite this, Williams was never seen on the field again in Thursday’s contest and was ruled out with just over seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

Williams fell victim to friendly fire on the opening drive of the game. The star defensive tackle was inadvertently kicked by teammate Christian Barmore while engaged with a blocker and could immediately be seen hobbling on the sideline before going to the locker room. Williams entered the day with 27 tackles, seven TFLs, and 3.5 sacks, and has been a staple along the Patriots’ stout run defense.

Defensive tackle Milton Williams is also active. Inactive for the Patriots are QB Tommy DeVito, OLB Anfernee Jennings, DE Keion White, S Jaylinn Hawkins, OL Caedan Wallace, and DT Eric Gregory.

The Patriots will also have OLB K’Lavon Chaisson (knee) on the field this weekend. Williams was active last week, but Chaisson was sidelined by the knee issue. Williams (16) and Chaisson (13) rank third and fourth on the team, respectively, in quarterback pressures and the two players tie for the second-most sacks (three).

Williams is officially listed as questionable after missing Thursday’s practice. He returned on Friday but did appear legitimately uncertain for tonight’s game. A free agent addition for the Pats this offseaosn, Williams has been a standout for Mike Vrabel in their first year in New England. Williams already has two sacks and five TFLs to his name.

Vrabel declined to comment on the health of his lineman and what led to his injury, but Williams was limited on Wednesday before being a DNP on Thursday, so it’s safe to assume he is legitimately questionable heading into the AFC East showdown against the Bills. Williams has totaled nine tackles and two sacks this season to go with five TFLs. In addition to Williams, Vrabel also said LB K’Lavon Chaisson (knee), CB Carlson Davis (illness), and LB Jahlani Tavai (calf) would all be questionable for Week 5.

Williams was limited yesterday, which could indicate that he suffered the injury in practice. His absence on Thursday casts doubt on his Week 5 availability. Williams ranks third on the team in both quarterback pressures (11) and sacks (two), and ties for the sixth-most defensive stops (six). The Patriots will have a tough time containing the Bills’ ground game if Williams is ruled out.

And for an hour or two, formerly of the Panthers. Adam Schefter reported that the Patriots would give Williams $63 million in guarantees. The Patriots reportedly beat out Carolina and Arizona for Williams’ services. Williams had a 91.7 PFF pass rush grade as part of an Eagles rotation with Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis inside, picking up five sacks in 653 defensive snaps. He’ll add some pocket push to a Patriots defense that had almost nothing of this caliber inside in 2024, and team with Harold Landry to try to get New England’s defense back to the prestige it enjoyed during the Bill Belichick years.