Patriots’ defensive coordinator Terrell Williams will be away from team for a few days
An unforeseen health issue came up, coach Mike Vrabel said.
FOXBOROUGH – Patriots coach Mike Vrabel opened his press conference Wednesday with a statement about the status of defensive coordinator Terrell Williams.
A recent health issue came up that will cause Williams to be away from the team for several days, Vrabel said.
“Due to some unforseen ongoings here with Terrell, Terrell Williams will be away for the next few days,” Vrabel said.
“It’s nothing related to the incident from March,” Vrabel added. “But it was something that just came up and we’ll have to run some more tests and we think it’s best, I think it’s best, that he focus on that and we prepare for Miami with what we’ve been doing.”
Williams had a health scare back in the spring that caused him to spend a significant amount of time away from the team.
Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr filled in during Williams’s previous absence, but Vrabel wouldn’t say if Kuhr would be responsible for calling defensive plays during Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.
“We’ll talk to you a little bit later in the week, on Friday, about how the calling of the game will go defensively,” Vrabel said. “Zak and I have been working with the staff to make sure we’re where we need to be.”
Vrabel played linebacker in the NFL for 14 seasons, most of them with the Patriots. There’s a chance he could call the defensive plays on Sunday, and if he does, it wouldn’t be his first time doing it.
Vrabel spent a year as the Houston Texans defensive coordinator in 2017 before becoming head coach of the Tennessee Titans the following year. The Texans went 4-12 in 2017 and gave up a league-worst 27.3 points per game.
Vrabel had more success in his head coaching role, compiling a 54-45 record over six seasons in Tennessee. The Titans’ defense was in the top-12 in terms of points allowed in three of the six years.
The Patriots head coach said Williams’s health issue came up “earlier in the week” sometime between Sunday’s game and Wednesday’s press conference.
Vrabel did not say what the health issue was, but noted that Williams’s recovery is a priority as he takes time away from the team.
“Want the best for him, and our players, and our players families, and everybody else. So, again, can’t speculate right now,” Vrabel said. “Just want to make sure he’s focused on getting results and figuring out what the next step is here or medically.”
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