The New England Patriots will close out the regular season with reinforcements from injured reserve.
The organization officially activated offensive tackle Will Campbell and defensive tackle Milton Williams on the eve of Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. Neither starter carried a game designation into the finale.
Campbell, 21, saw his 21-day practice window open on New Year’s Eve and was a full participant throughout the week. He spent four games on injured reserve after being carted to the locker
room with an MCL sprain in November. It marked the first time that an injury forced the former LSU All-American to miss game action in his “entire life.” The 6-foot-6, 319-pound rookie left tackle has made a dozen starts since landing in Foxborough with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, totaling 738 offensive snaps.
Williams, 26, stayed sidelined for five games due to a high ankle sprain sustained in November. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive lineman returned to practice last week and recently went from limited to full availability. Arriving on a four-year, $104 million contract, Williams stands 11 starts, 27 tackles and 3.5 sacks into his tenure. He has also had a hand in eight quarterback hits, seven stops for loss and one batted pass. Selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft at No. 73 overall, the Louisiana Tech product earned a Super Bowl LIX ring during his final campaign with the Philadelphia Eagles.
New England waived defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. to make room on the 53-man roster for the activations. In additional movement, offensive lineman Brenden Jaimes and defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III have been elevated from the practice squad for Sunday.
Pharms, 29, had been promoted back to the active roster in late December after twice serving as a standard elevation. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound interior defensive lineman’s Patriots career has spanned 30 games and a handful of starts. Since entering the NFL ranks in 2022, he stands with 44 tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery. Undrafted in 2020 by way of Sacramento City College, San Joaquin Delta College and Friends University, Pharms made previous stops with the Champions Indoor Football League’s Wichita Force and USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers.
Jaimes, 26, re-signed to New England’s practice squad on New Year’s Day after clearing waivers via the 53-man roster. The vested veteran now finds himself as a three-time elevation. He has played eight snaps at center and 21 snaps on special teams since agreeing to terms in September. Taken in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft at No. 159 overall, Jaimes stands 49 games and three starts into his run. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Nebraska alum spent four years with the Los Angeles Chargers before logging an offseason stint with the Tennessee Titans.
Taylor, 23, also checks in as a three-time elevation after reverting earlier in the week. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive tackle has logged 27 defensive snaps since signing to the practice squad in October, recording five tackles. Entering the NFL with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Miami in 2024, his run includes 33 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two batted passes through 18 appearances.
The 13-3 AFC East champions ruled out guard Jared Wilson, nose tackle Khyiris Tonga, as well as linebackers Harold Landry III and Robert Spillane on the final injury report. Cornerback Alex Austin, a limited participant since returning to practice, will also remain on injured reserve for Sunday.
Kickoff at Gillette Stadium is set for 4:25 p.m. ET.
