Overview
- Williams must miss a minimum of four games, making him ineligible until Week 17 and sidelining him for Cincinnati, the Giants, Buffalo and Baltimore.
- The injury occurred on the first series against the Jets; he briefly returned before being ruled out and was moved to injured reserve two days later.
- Vrabel identified Christian Barmore, Khyiris Tonga and Cory Durden as the primary interior trio, with rookies Eric Gregory and Joshua Farmer plus practice-squad option Jeremiah Pharms Jr. in the mix.
- The staff is evaluating Tonga’s short-yardage fullback duties to maximize his defensive workload, signaling role tweaks rather than a schematic overhaul.
- New England filled the roster spot by signing rookie edge Bradyn Swinson to the 53-man roster, as the team works to replace production from Williams, a $104 million offseason signing who had been a key piece of a top run defense.