New England Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams has returned to practice.
New England Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams has been activated from the injured reserve and returned to practice on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old signed a four-year $104 million deal with the Patriots this offseason. He appeared in 11 games and had 27 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss, and eight quarterback hits.
Williams played his first four years for the Philadelphia Eagles and played a pivotal role for their defensive line. He has been a quality run-stuffer for the Patriots and has excelled as a pass rusher.
He will be impactful for New England's defense as they embark on their stretch run. The Patriots are 12-3 and in first place in the AFC East.
They have clinched a playoff berth, but have a roster that has a ton of young talent. On their playoff run, the Patriots should lean on players like Williams, who have playoff experience.
Williams is coming off a Super Bowl run with the Eagles last season, which should help him guide young players who haven't gone through the postseason.
He was very impactful for Philadelphia's defense during their run, recording seven total tackles, two sacks, and two tackles for loss.
New England will finish off the regular season with matchups against the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.
On paper, these games should be wins for the Patriots, which means they could finish 14-3. That would be quite the improvement after finishing the 2024 season with a 4-13 record.
New England's drastic shift has come because of a ton of different moves, including the hiring of head coach Mike Vrabel. Vrabel has helped the Patriots elevate, as well as their free agency additions in Williams and wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
The improvement in coaching and the veteran additions have helped the young core led by Drake Maye develop and turn this team into a contender in the AFC.
Williams may not be back for New England's game in Week 17 against the Jets, but he is close to returning. For the Patriots, the most important thing is that he is on track to be ready for the postseason run.