"The question being rightly asked was: Should Mike Vrabel bring him back for this game, wait another week, or even wait until the playoffs to unleash Williams on the Patriots' opponents? Williams suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 11 against the Jets. And that's never an easy injury to recover from. It can often take a minimum of multiple weeks or even longer."
"Though the team had cleared Milton Williams to practice, even though he's the team's best defensive lineman, Vrabel obviously felt that it was too risky for him to contribute against the Jets. It had to be a difficult decision because Williams is a difference maker, especially against the run. He's also a big playmaker, as his Super Bowl performance for the Eagles testified."
The Patriots play the Jets in Week 17 with injuries and uncertainty around key players. Defensive tackle Milton Williams was eligible to return from injured reserve after sustaining a high-ankle sprain in Week 11. High-ankle sprains commonly require multiple weeks to recover and can jeopardize future availability if rushed back. Williams cleared to practice but Vrabel opted to deactivate him for the Jets to avoid further risk. Vrabel's decision aligns with his larger season goal of overtaking the Bills for the AFC East and preserving players for potential playoff contention.
Read at Musket Fire
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