PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL

PRESS CONFERENCE
November 26, 2025

Q: I haven't seen a designation for Will [Campbell] to be on IR yet. Is that coming and any other news?

MV: Yeah, we'll put Will on IR here at 4 o'clock. We signed Miles Battle to the 53-man roster. We put Double-A – Alex Austin – on injured reserve. Signed Bill Murray to the practice squad. And obviously Thayer [Munford Jr.], he's signed from Cleveland's practice squad. So, just working through some moving parts here as we get to the middle part of our week with Monday night preparation, and everything that we'll have to do to make sure that we've got 48 guys that all have a role and understand how they can help us win the game on Monday.

Q: What is it about Thayer that appealed to you guys?

MV: Well, he was here. It's just – again, guys, it's just at this point in time of the season, there's only so many options. I mean, it is what it is. So, he was here. He was somebody that learned our system and has been working. I felt like this gives us some options here with the guys that we have, and then bringing him in as well.

Q: Could Marcus Bryant factor in at left tackle, or will you stick with Vederian [Lowe]?

MV: I think the plan right now would be to go with Vederian coming out of that game, and Marcus will be ready to go. He has to be ready to go.

Q: Mike, what sort of challenges does that defensive front for the Giants present?

MV: Quite a bit. I think 57 of the 66 quarterback hits come from those guys up front. Three edge guys with [Brian] Burns, [Kayvon] Thibodeaux, [Abdul] Carter. Obviously what Big Dex [Dexter Lawrence II] can do inside and [Roy] Robertson-Harris. So, those guys are certainly impactful players that have to be accounted for every play. They rotate them through there pretty good, and so there's a lot of juice there. There's a lot of disruption.

Q: When it comes to preparing for a new play caller on defense for them, just how does that preparation go?

MV: I mean, if they can change the defense in a week – I don't know – they're better than we are. Maybe he pressures more, maybe he plays more Cover 2. Maybe they – I would have no idea. But I think the structure has got to be somewhat the same. I mean, may want to pressure more. I think that the calls that they have, those can always change. I just – it would be really hard to completely change from an under front to an over in base. But then, they were pretty multiple before, Evan [Lazar]. I think we'll just always have to be prepared for things that they could do, and maybe that there's more pressure on early downs, less pressure on third down or whatever those things have been. But I wouldn't have any idea how he would plan on calling it. We'll have to just see and make sure that we're prepared for anything that could come up throughout the game.

Q: Mike, you mentioned the 48 spots on an active roster. Considering the domino effect that would take place with injuries or absences, like last week on the field goals, PATs, special teams, when you lose guys, how much of a difference has it made going from 46 to 48 with elevations and those extra game days off?

MV: Well, it's funny. Every time they move it, it's like, "Man, we could really use more spots." And then thinking about when the practice squad was five or six guys, you're like, "How do we do this?" And it's kind of the same way as probably our parents or our grandparents doing things out of necessity. Now we just have more numbers, so we want to continue to have more bodies. But I think the lineman thing is good, giving you an extra lineman there on game day. Whether that's the third quarterback availability, just figuring out what those rules are and how we can construct a roster that allows us to have the special teams depth, and then some versatility with some players that are playing multiple positions on offense and defense.

Q: Mike, in the locker room when you played, players would talk about accountability within the team. They would talk about how if a player needed talking to, leaders such as yourself would talk to them even before Bill [Belichick] would. Do you see that kind of accountability developing in this locker room for this team?

MV: I mean, I think so. I think that that's what we always try to build, is the ability to hold people accountable, hold each other accountable, not in a negative way, but in a positive way to help themselves and to help the team. So, whatever it was 20 years ago, it was. I'm focused on what it is today and moving forward.

Q: Do you find that players talking to other players have more of an effect possibly than a coach talking to a player?

MV: It depends. I think just all depends on what that relationship is. If it's not a very good relationship, it's probably not going to have much impact on it, same way as it would if a coach that didn't have a great relationship with a player said something. They may not do any good. So, I think it comes down to the relationship and how you communicate that to get the desired result.

Q: Mike, you used a deceptive formation Sunday, letting Hunter [Henry] play left tackle/tight end early in the game, but it didn't go your way, but opportunity was right there. How do you see those types of unconventional plays, especially from risk and reward perspective?

MV: Yeah, I think it all comes down to the decisions, and I think just trying to find a way to create X plays on offense. I think I've talked about the difficulty of creating those explosive gains so that you're able to change field position and give yourself a little bit of momentum. Whether we call anything, it's making a decision based on whether it's a good look for it or not, and understand that we can reserve the right to punt, not everything that we call is going to be into a great look and defensively it's not going to be into a good look. So, we'll continue to try to find ways to create some X plays, and hopefully it'll go better the next time.

Q: Mike, you guys have been able to create some of those explosive plays and some extended play sorts of situations. Drake [Maye] seems to be really adept at those. Would this be a week, though, where you might encourage him to try to get rid of the ball more quickly just based on the opponent and the changes?

MV: Well, I think that that's based on how many guys are in protection and what the coverage is, and not just getting rid of it, just throwing it into a team meeting and just saying, "Well, I got rid of it quickly." I think it's about understanding the intent of the play, where you feel like you're protected and where you maybe aren't when the ball has to come out on time. We've seen him transfer up into the pocket, keep two hands on the football and keep his eyes downfield. And then when we leave the pocket, we've got to make great decisions and remain a passer, but also understand that these guys are coming. We've seen a lot of hits at the sidelines from all the quarterbacks. Just better get out or get down, and if they've got a foot in bounds – we've seen some good shots by guys on the sidelines that have been called penalties and then picked up in replay assist because that's what the rules are. So, to those defenders that are doing that – and they're doing it legally – that's what they're going to try to do. So, we always have to be smart when we're out of the pocket.

Q: Mike, it's said a lot this time of year with the weather changing you've got to be able to run the ball, play defense, December and January. Does that kind of conventionalism hold up to scrutiny in your experience as of late playing football games this time of year?

MV: I think good football and taking care of the football, certainly, is critical, and then depending on how bad those elements and things are. I think special teams becomes important, the field position, what the wind is like and being able to make field goals in adverse conditions all play into it. So, the ball is critical in this type of weather. Certainly want to be able to do those things that you mentioned, be able to run the ball and stop it. But possessing the football and making sure that you're smart with the football probably is going to go a long way.

Q: Going back to Will and Jared [Wilson], I know you guys were waiting on some results the last time we talked. Is the expectation –

MV: That neither of them will be out there this week. That's the expectation. I can pretty much guarantee you that.

Q: Mike, you talked about the kicking game. Andy [Borregales] was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, but also what Julian [Ashby] and Bryce [Baringer] have done together as a unit. How have you seen them stay consistent all season long?

MV: Well, they travel in trios, and you see one, you see all three of them, and it's like they're kind of working on their thing. I think Bryce has been pretty calming for both of those young guys. I think Jeremy [Springer] and Tom [Quinn] have done a nice job with that particular group. I think Bryce has really gotten comfortable with his technique, been able to put the ball in places and, I think, help the coverage. Andy's been good for us and happy that he can have some success. And then Julian continues to work extremely hard on his craft.

Q: Mike, as it gets later in the season here and the games sort of just ratchet up in terms of importance, if you thought it would help spark your run game, would you be more willing to use Drake in a designed quarterback run game?

MV: I mean, we've had some of those plays and we've called some of those plays. And so, you kind of want to be careful. Guys are going in concussion protocol left and right. Again, we'll be willing to do anything to win a football game, but I think being smart is probably the biggest thing. We've run Drake and he's run himself, and then we've handed it off to the running backs. And so, I think it's just about a good balance of plays that we feel like can help us.

Q: Mike, to go back to Will Campbell for just a minute, what's your message to him as he kind of attacks his first NFL rehab with hopes of coming back this season?

MV: Just keep him engaged. He comes into the meetings, stays engaged, works hard to get back and to recover quickly. And that's all it can be. If you want to have a good, long NFL career, you're going to have to battle through some of these things, and these things are going to come up. I would say that he's already working hard, extremely hard to get back and being engaged in the meetings. So, that's kind of what it will be for four weeks.

Q: Zoom out here, a little lighthearted. Where does Thanksgiving fall on your power rankings holiday list?

MV: I'm going to say it's outside the top three.

Q: What are you thankful for?

MV: My family. I think that having them here this week is going to be good, going to be nice. And then I would say the opportunity to coach this team. I think the players, the coaches, the staff. That's what I'm thankful for. Got some good friends that have helped along the years. How about you guys? I appreciate you guys. I'm thankful for you guys.

Q: What are the top three?

MV: Christmas. Christmas is number one. Fourth of July is a close second. Big firework guy. And then it's a toss-up. St. Patrick's Day, Halloween. After Christmas and Fourth of July, there's a big drop-off.