The Patriots’ tackle situation is getting a closer look in training camp, and the early answer is telling. With Will Campbell out of practice, Mike Vrabel turned to Marcus Bryant with the starters at left tackle instead of Caleb Lomu, according to Patriots beat writer Chad Graff.
“Without Will Campbell on the field today, it was Marcus Bryant - not Caleb Lomu - who got the reps at left tackle with the Patriots' starters,” Graff wrote on X.
That wrinkle makes the battle behind Campbell worth watching. Campbell has already left his mark on camp, and he’s part of a young group that has helped keep quarterback Drake Maye protected. But once the Patriots start sorting out who sits where, the depth chart looks more open than it did on paper.
New England drafted Caleb Lomu to be an anchor on the line, but this camp snapshot suggests he still has work to do. For now, the Patriots appear to have enough flexibility to shuffle pieces around and still keep the offensive line functioning.
That matters because this group was already solid last season. Pro Football Focus ranked the Patriots 11th on the offensive line, and they also finished with the sixth-best pass-blocking efficiency. Campbell was a key part of that, along with Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury.
Campbell has also spent more time training this offseason to sharpen his own game. If he and the rest of the line keep trending the right way, Maye should have plenty of time in the pocket. And if that happens, New England will be in position to make real noise this season.
In Other News...
Patriots Camp Took A Tense Turn As Drake Maye Hit Trouble
The Patriots got a little healthier during their 11th training camp practice, with offensive guard Caedan Wallace back from a lower-body injury and tight end C.J. Dippre working in pads for the first time since being activated. For a camp that has already been packed with competition, those returns offered a small jolt of normalcy as New England kept sorting through the depth chart and trying to build rhythm on offense and defense.
Drake Mayes day, though, ended on a sour note. After completing 10 of 15 passes, the quarterback threw two late interceptions, and the sequence was enough to prompt a team meeting before practice was cut short. There was also some edge between cornerback Christian Gonzalez and wide receiver A.J. Brown during a notable on-field confrontation, but it was settled without lingering bad blood. [Read more 🡒]
Will Campbell Is Giving Patriots Fans Real Reason For Hope
Will Campbells offseason has apparently given the Patriots a little something theyve been short on at times up front: reassurance. Teammate DreMont Jones said Campbell has taken a real step forward in his development, and the practice battles between the two have been valuable for both sides. For a team trying to build stability on the offensive line, that kind of internal progress matters just as much as any outside addition.
Campbell is expected to play a significant role on the Patriots line in the 2026 season, so signs of growth now carry extra weight. If he keeps trending the way Jones described, New England may have found more than a promising young tackle. It may have found one of the pieces it can build around as the line tries to become a strength instead of a question. [Read more 🡒]