Pats' Campbell played through torn knee ligament in playoffs

New England Patriots offensive tackle Will Campbell told reporters Tuesday that he was playing through a torn ligament in his knee during their playoff run, according to MassLive's Mark Daniels.

Campbell added that he wasn't 100% in the four postseason contests, but made it clear clear the injury was not an excuse for how he performed. He was placed on injured reserve in late November due to a knee ailment, but returned for the Patriots' final regular-season contest.

The 22-year-old allowed 14 pressures in the Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the most in a playoff game since 2018, according to Next Gen Stats. Campbell's 29 pressures surrendered during the playoffs were also the most recorded in postseason history by Next Gen Stats.

"It comes with the job when you don't perform," Campbell said of the criticism he's received after the Super Bowl, according to Daniels. "Obviously, I was picked high, paid a lot, so people expect a certain thing, and I expect more myself.

"So whenever I don't perform, I don't expect everyone to be like, 'It's okay, buddy.' I mean, obviously it sucks, but it doesn't suck for anyone more than it sucks for me."

The Patriots' offensive line struggled as a whole against Seattle's defensive front, allowing six sacks and 11 quarterback hits.

"Nobody played good enough for us to win," Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said when asked about his offensive line's play in the Super Bowl, according to NFL Network's Grant Gordon.

Campbell was taken fourth overall in the 2025 draft and was the first offensive lineman selected. He was the Patriots' Week 1 starter at left tackle, finishing the regular season with 783 offensive snaps played in 13 contests.