FOXBORO >> One of the first hires Mike Vrabel made as the Patriots’ head coach netted ex-Lions and Titans defensive assistant Terrell Williams as his defensive coordinator.

The Patriots announced Williams’ addition in late January, and haven’t seen much of him since.

Williams has spent most of the past two months connecting with players and assistant coaches via video conference, while he recovers from what he described as a “traumatic” health event that occurred on a spring trip home to Detroit. In Williams’ place, the Patriots have temporarily promoted inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr while they conclude their final voluntary spring practices and head into mandatory minicamp next week.

Speaking with reporters for the first time since his promotion, Kuhr said he’s simply been following orders from Williams and Vrabel in team meetings and on the practice field, where he’s called plays.

“I’m just an extension of (Williams) and Vrabes and echoing that message to the unit,” Kuhr said before Monday’s OTA practice. “(Williams) and I meet every single day. We talk every single day with Zoom, so we’re always on the same page. It’s really my voice is now the one doing it.”

Kuhr worked under Vrabel and Williams in Tennessee, starting as a quality control coach in 2020. Before joining the Titans, he coached offense in the college ranks and became the offensive coordinator at Texas State; an experience he says now serves him.

“I’ve been a coordinator before,” Kuhr said. “I know it was at the college level, but I’ve been in front of a unit before and ran unit meetings. I did that for a couple of years, so I wouldn’t say it’s anything too new.”

After his debut season in Tennessee, Kuhr served as the Titans’ assistant linebackers coach for the next three seasons. Last year, he worked as a defensive assistant for the Giants before Vrabel re-hired him in New England. Williams praised his interim replacement during his only interview as the Patriots’ defensive coordinator last month.

“I think (Kuhr)’s going to be a superstar in this league,” Williams said. “(He’s) smart, and more than anything, I think that he has the ability to connect with players. … So really, I think the defense is in good, good hands.”

Tavai out for weeks

Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai will miss next week’s mandatory minicamp with a left calf injury and should be sidelined until at least the start of training camp in late July, according to ESPN.

Tavai hurt his calf during a competitive team period in Monday’s voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTA) practice. He remained on the ground for a few minutes, as teammates knelt around him. Tavai was eventually helped off the field and onto a training table, where his calf was examined by the team’s medical staff. He did not return to practice.

Tavai, 28, has been a central part of the Patriots’ top defensive units in OTAs. He’s played next to and behind projected starter Robert Spillane, who is expected to call signals in the team’s new defense. Tavai handled those duties last season, when he piled up at team-high 115 tackles over 16 starts in 17 game appearances.

Before the season, the Patriots signed Tavai to a three-year, $16 million contract extension worth up to $21 million with incentives. He had come off what was a career year in 2023, posting 110 tackles with two interceptions, one sack, five pass breakups and a couple forced fumbles. Tavai originally signed to the Patriots’ practice squad in 2021, then worked his way up the depth chart by making a dozen starts the following season.

Without him, the team is now down to Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Monty Rice and Cam Riley at the position. The Patriots re-signed Elliss in the offseason to a two-year, $13.5 million deal, matching an offer sheet he received from the Raiders as a restricted free agent. Spillane and Gibbens both signed as a free agent, while Rice is a holdover from last season and Riley joined as a rookie free agent in late April.

Strange looking ahead

Former first-round pick Cole Strange is now entering the final season of his contract.

Still, it feels like a new beginning.

Strange, who had his 2024 season almost entirely wiped out due to a torn patellar tendon, finds himself in a position battle with free-agent addition Wes Schweitzer at left guard. During practices, he’s also taken reps at right guard under new offensive line coach Doug Marrone, his fourth offensive line coach in as many years. But for Strange, health is all that matters right now.

“It feels awesome to just be healthy for OTAs and be able to be out here and work,” Strange said. “This time last year I was just learning how to walk. So I feel very blessed.”

He later added: “The truth is, all I can really do is control what I can control. (I) pray to God I don’t have any more injuries. As long as that takes care of itself, I’ll handle what I can handle.”

The Patriots have also worked in fellow fourth-year veteran Tyrese Robinson at left guard, where former fourth-round picks Layden Robinson and Sidy Sow could also be in the mix come training camp. Unlike Robinson and Sow, Strange has also played center, where the team recently added veteran Garrett Bradbury.

McDaniels welcoming input

The Patriots have a familiar face at offensive coordinator, but that doesn’t mean the 2025 playbook will be a facsimile of what Tom Brady was running for nearly 20 years.

The Patriots rehired Josh McDaniels as their offensive coordinator but filled out their offensive staff with experienced assistants who have never worked under the OC.

McDaniels said Monday before the Patriots’ third week of OTAs that the offense would be running plays that were mostly foreign to him. Quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant, who came over from the Browns, said Monday that forming the offense has been “collaborative.”

“That’s kudos to Josh, because he’s had a ton of success in his past, and he’s been very open to the new schemes and new systems and new techniques,” Grant said. “So I think it’s going to be fun. And he’s been super open to that.”

Wide receivers coach Todd Downing has been an offensive coordinator and play-caller with the Titans and Jets, tight ends coach Thomas Brown was a passing game coordinator, offensive coordinator and interim head coach last year alone with the Bears, and offensive line coach Doug Marrone is a previous offensive coordinator and head coach.

Brown said the Patriots’ offensive assistants have lended a “big voice” to shaping the offense.

“Every place I’ve been has been different,” Brown said. “So, some guys (allow) less input than others, but I think (McDaniels has) done a really good job first off, laying out how he sees the offense from a philosophical standpoint and building it from the ground up, but then also being open to hearing about our experiences in the past and things that kind of marry and fit with our system and also, most important with our players.”

Campbell signs deal

The Patriots signed 2025 first-round pick Will Campbell to his rookie contract, the team announced Tuesday.

The fourth overall pick’s fully-guaranteed deal is worth $43.66M over four years, per NFL Media. Campbell received a $28.39 million signing bonus as part of the contract. Campbell agreeing to his deal Tuesday leaves running back TreVeyon Henderson and safety Craig Woodson as the Patriots’ only unsigned rookies.