The New England Patriots are on day two of joint practice with the Vikings before the teams face off on Saturday afternoon. Day one had its ups (Stefon Diggs) and downs (the offensive line), but that's what training camp is for. Getting young players reps, especially across the offensive line, has been a focal point for Mike Vrabel the past few weeks.
New England spent two of their first four picks in April on the offensive line, with Will Campbell being the fourth-overall pick, and Jared Wilson later selected in the third round.
Throughout camp, the Patriots have started Campbell at left tackle and Wilson at left guard, as the team is hoping to shore up Drake Maye's blindside for the next decade. Campbell looked like a top-five pick in the preseason game against the Commanders, while Wilson has not been as successful over the past two weeks against the Commanders and Vikings in their joint practices.
After struggling during Wednesday's joint practice in Minnesota, Wilson hit his first bump in the road as a rookie. According to Patriots reporters Doug Kyed and Taylor Kyles, interior lineman Ben Brown took over Wilson's left guard spot on the first-team offense during Thursday's practice.
Wilson's struggles have gotten worse over the course of camp, as he allowed "at least" one sack yesterday, while his fellow rookie teammate Will Campbell allowed two.
Wilson had some tough reps vs the Commanders, and the left side has struggled picking up twists
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) August 14, 2025
Might want an experienced veteran next to their top pick https://t.co/OMboBP98Op
Patriots Rookie Jared Wilson Removed from First-Team Offense in Joint Practice
It'll be a learning experience for both Wilson and Campbell, who are inserted into a Patriots offensive line unit that allowed the fifth-most sacks last season (52). Wilson was originally a center at Georgia, where he started 12 games at the position in 2024. The Patriots had a more glaring need at left guard after signing center Garrett Bradbury in free agency, and were hoping Wilson could transition smoothly to a new position.
With the way NFL defenses scheme up their blitzes and packages on an every-down basis, it can become confusing for young offensive linemen like Wilson and Campbell. Not to mention, they're playing right beside each other, making communication and trust even more important.
The player who replaced Wilson on the first-team offense, Ben Brown, made 10 starts at center for the Patriots last season after David Andrews went down for the season in Week 4. He does have experience sliding over to play guard, as he made one start for the Seahawks at the position in 2023.
Left guard has been a position of concern throughout this Patriots camp, as Cole Strange hasn't shown much since being drafted in 2022. It will continue to be a position to watch all season, and the team will need to get it right before Week 1 to help the progression of their cornerstone tackle, Will Campbell.
Time will tell if Wilson can make it back onto the first-team offense ahead of the Patriots' second preseason game on Saturday, but he's taking a backseat for now after a rocky start at his new position.