FOXBOROUGH — Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was noncommittal Monday when asked about the future of defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, who has had recurring health issues since the spring and wasn’t with the team during the two most recent games.
“We’ll kind of see where things are here, going forward in the next couple of days,” Vrabel said when asked if he anticipated Williams returning for Sunday’s game against the Panthers. “Terrell’s around. We’ve just got to make sure that we’re trying to build some consistency with how we do things.”
Williams, who is in his first season with the Patriots, was away from the team through a portion of the offseason program because of an undisclosed illness. While he checked in on a regular basis, the day-to-day operations of the defense were guided by inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr.
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Williams did return for training camp, but health issues persisted, and at one point this summer he was treated for dehydration on the practice field. While he returned for the regular-season opener against the Raiders, he’s been out the last two games. In his place, the team has turned to Kuhr to serve as the defensive play-caller.
On Monday, Vrabel was asked if he was toying with the idea of having Williams serve in more of an advisory role moving forward. He didn’t dismiss it.
“I don’t know if I’m ready to say that yet. I’m just making sure that, one, his health is first and foremost. That’s critically important,” Vrabel said. “Just making sure that the consistency is there so that we know what to account for and plan for. I don’t want to say that it’s fluid, but we’ll see where things are, and if he’s going to continue to help us.
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“I just don’t know, based on the availability, what that’s going to look like. The communication and everything that we’ve been doing over there has been good. His ability to help us has been really good. But I also don’t want to go back and forth. I don’t think that’s good for anybody, either.
“So, appreciate you asking about Terrell. But right now we’ll just kind of, I would say moving forward, kind of be where we were last week. That’s where I would anticipate it being this week.”
Special company
Veteran tight end Hunter Henry was an offensive bright spot in Sunday’s loss to the Steelers, with a team-high eight receptions (on 11 targets) for 90 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His eight catches gave him 212 in a New England uniform, third all time among Patriots tight ends behind Rob Gronkowski and Ben Coates.
“Two guys that are special, special players,” Henry said when asked about the company. “To be mentioned sort of in the same breath with those guys is an honor. I still have a lot of work to do. A lot of work ahead of me. But those two guys are special. Patriot Hall of Famers. Gronk will get in for sure. He’ll be a first-ballot in Canton. To be in the same breath with those guys is an honor.”
Henry, who appeared to get dinged up in the second half with a knee injury, said he was OK.
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“Sore. Waking up on Mondays is hard, no matter what goes on,” he said. “I took a few [hits]. But just taking it day by day, and just continuing to get better. But I’ll be all right.”
Grier dead at 82
Former Patriots executive Bobby Grier died over the weekend at the age of 82.
Grier joined the franchise in 1981 as offensive backfield coach and went on to serve in a variety of roles, ultimately as vice president of player personnel from 1997-2000.
“Bobby Grier was a man of tremendous integrity,” said owner Robert Kraft in a statement issued by the team. “He broke barriers and built bridges, and his legacy will forever be part of our franchise’s history. We are grateful for his years of service and the impact he had on so many people within our organization and across the NFL. My thoughts are with his family and all who are mourning his loss.”
Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social.