Reminder: Health Uncertainty Still Surrounding This Key Patriots Hire

The New England Patriots face many significant questions ahead of training camp, which begins Wednesday.

How will Drake Maye look? What kind of camp will Mike Vrabel run? Will Stefon Diggs participate in team drills? Will Josh McDaniels’ offense look any different?

Well, here’s another that shouldn’t be overlooked: Will their defensive coordinator be around?

First-year DC Terrell Williams missed all of spring practices due to a mysterious health issue. Linebackers coach Zak Kuhr shouldered many of the defensive coordinator responsibilities during OTAs and minicamp while Williams was away from the Patriots, with Vrabel also helping.

With the first camp practices taking place this week, we still have no idea whether Williams will be on the field and coaching up the defense. However, it’s worth noting that Vrabel sang an optimistic tune when asked about Williams after minicamp ended.

“Doing well, and he’ll be here soon. Excited about that,” Vrabel said. “So, I think everybody’s looking forward to that.”

Williams also sounded hopeful when speaking to reporters during a Zoom call that same day.

“I want to make it clear that I’m away from the building, but I’m not away from the team,” Williams said. “I’m doing good. I’m not away from the football team.

“ … I came back home here to Detroit for spring break and had a little medical scare. I mean, it wasn’t a little medical scare. It was a medical scare. Since then, per doctor’s orders, I’ve kind of stayed here, in Detroit, and been handling that.”

Williams, 51, worked under Vrabel in various defensive-coaching roles from 2018 through 2023 when both were with the Tennessee Titans. He spent last season as the Lions’ defensive line coach and run-game coordinator.