Milton Williams Nearing Return as Patriots Eye Defensive Reinforcements
FOXBORO - For Milton Williams, the wait might finally be over.
The Patriots’ defensive tackle has been sidelined since suffering a high ankle sprain during New England’s Thursday night win back on November 13. The injury landed him on injured reserve, forcing him to miss at least four games - a stretch that ultimately spanned more than five weeks, thanks in part to the team’s bye. Now, with the calendar flipping toward the season’s final stretch, Williams is back on the practice field and could be trending toward a return as soon as this Sunday against the Jets.
“We’ll see, we’ll see,” Williams said Tuesday from his locker, keeping things cautious but optimistic. “I’ve been running, so it’s just getting back out there, getting acclimated. Of course, getting my wind back, but also really practicing and pushing on the body, and seeing how I respond to that.”
Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed Tuesday that Williams would be back at practice on Wednesday, officially opening the three-week window for the team to activate him from injured reserve. Before he can suit up again, the Patriots will need to make a corresponding roster move to clear space.
“I know he worked extremely hard with the strength and conditioning staff, with the training staff, and he stayed involved in meetings,” Vrabel said. “That’s not easy - staying mentally locked in when you know you’re not going to play for a while. I appreciate what he’s done here - his leadership, his focus, and his willingness to do everything he can to get back.”
That commitment has been steady from the start. Williams said he knew fairly early in the recovery process that surgery wouldn’t be necessary - a critical development that gave him a clear path to return after the minimum IR stint.
“After we went to the doctor, he said it was sturdy enough for me not to have surgery,” Williams said. “So once they told me I didn’t have to go under the knife, I knew it was just going to take some time. High ankles can linger a little bit.”
And linger it has. In the five games without Williams, the Patriots’ defense - particularly against the run - has taken a noticeable step back.
Once among the league’s stingiest units, New England has allowed 4.6 yards per carry since Week 12, ranking second-to-last in rushing success rate allowed. The pass rush hasn’t fared much better, sliding into the bottom 10 in sack rate.
Williams won’t be a one-man fix, but his return could provide a much-needed jolt to a defense that’s been struggling to hold the line. His ability to anchor the interior, eat up blocks, and generate push up the middle has been sorely missed.
“The guys, they’ve been fighting and holding it down since I’ve been gone,” Williams said. “So when I try to get back out there, I’ll try to do my part, make plays.
My mindset never changed. I missed a couple weeks, but will try to get back out there and be the same player that I was.”
With the postseason picture still murky but within reach, the timing of Williams’ return couldn’t be more critical. If he can return to form quickly, the Patriots might just regain some of the defensive edge they’ve been missing - and not a moment too soon.