Patriots Defensive Tackle Williams to Miss Four Games with Injury

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots have placed starting defensive tackle Williams on injured reserve after he suffered a high ankle sprain during Thursday’s 27-14 win over the Titans. Williams will miss a minimum of four games as a result of this injury.

Williams’ injury occurred on the first series of the game but he managed to return to the field in the first half. However, at halftime, coach Mike Vrabel opted to keep Williams out for the remainder of the match. “I made a decision that we felt like we should probably just start treating that thing and get ahead of it and see where he’s at the next couple of days,” Vrabel said after the win.

Williams, who joined the Patriots in March on a four-year, $104 million deal, has been a key player on the defense this season. He has recorded 27 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and eight quarterback hits while playing 61% of defensive snaps.

Despite the loss of Williams, the Patriots, with a record of 9-2, currently hold the NFL’s best record. They will face the Chargers on November 23rd without their star defensive tackle. The Patriots are considering multiple players to step in and fill the gap left by Williams, which includes fifth-year pro and rookie.