On Friday, Patriots (14-3) head coach Mike Vrabel announced where the injury report stood for Sunday’s Wild Card Weekend game against the Chargers (11-6):
OUT:
- DT Khyiris Tonga
QUESTIONABLE:
- LB Harold Landry
- WR Kayshon Boutte
- OL Thayer Munford Jr.
Vrabel also noted that running back TreVeyon Henderson, who was not spotted during the media portion of practice on Friday, was away for the day for personal reasons, and that the rookie would be good to go for Sunday.
One name noticeably missing from that group above is linebacker Robert Spillane, who last played in a game for New England in Week 13 against the Giants. It was during that game on Monday Night Football that Spillane injured his ankle, knocking him out of the lineup for the Patriots’ final four games of the regular season.
On the final practice ahead of Week 18 against the Dolphins, Spillane was spotted for the first time in a month, signaling that a return was near. And after being a limited participant during Wednesday’s practice this week followed by a full participant on Thursday, the 30-year-old linebacker is back in the middle of the Patriots’ defense, ready to help restore New England’s league-leading rush defense back to its previous form as the team readies itself for a playoff run.
Fired up for what’s ahead, Spillane returned to the WEEI airwaves on Friday for one of his regular appearances on The Greg Hill Show, as a part of Patriots Friday.
“I don't care what they think or what you guys think,” said Spillane when asked about expectations from the media heading into Sunday. “All due respect - I care about what the men in this building think, and we're going to go out there and battle and put it all on the field.
“I don't give a f- … I’m about to start swearing, so I’ll just take a deep breath. Because at the end of the day, we know the type of work that we put in, the type of focus and effort and passion that we've had all year, and we're going to continue to stick to our identity.”
Starting with the absence of defensive tackle Milton Williams after his injury in Week 11, New England’s rush defense went from being its biggest strength to its biggest weakness over the next several weeks.
Over the first 10 games of 2025, with both Spillane and Williams in the lineup, New England was allowing an average of 79.2 rushing yards per game, with only three games in which the opponent combined for over 100 yards rushing.
Over the next seven games, in which either Spillane, Williams or both were missing from the lineup for a majority of the game (Williams exited Week 11 on his first series), the defense allowed an average of 133.85 rushing yards per game, with each opponent they faced combining for over 100 yards rushing.
In Weeks 15, 16 and 17, where both Spillane and Williams were missing, the Patriots allowed 168, 171 and 164 on the ground - the three highest totals allowed by the team all season. With the return of Williams in Week 18, that rush defense started looking closer to what we saw the first 10 games, allowing just 63 yards to a Miami offense that abandoned that phase of the game once things got out of hand.
With both players back, look for New England’s defense to be stout against the run yet again this January.
It’s also worth noting that Chargers starting running back Omarion Hampton did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday with an ankle injury. And while Daniel Popper of The Athletic reported that the rookie running back told him he plans on playing this Sunday after being limited at Friday’s practice, ESPN’s Adam Schefter posted on X on Friday that Hampton’s status for the game is questionable.
Whether Hampton is in the lineup or not, the Patriots’ defense is in a much better spot with both Spillane and Williams healthy.
Kickoff for Sunday is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Tune in each and every Monday throughout the football season to Patriots Monday on WEEI. Head coach Mike Vrabel joins The Greg Hill Show at 6:30 a.m. ET, and quarterback Drake Maye joins WEEI Afternoons.