Patriots Injury News TE Julian Hill placed on IR (Vrabel confirms he's lost for 2026)

[Clonamery]

This is seriously disappointing. Maybe Crownover will become our blocking TE. If Dippre was any good at blocking, why wasn't he out there last year.

Well, on the flipside he was elevated to the 53 when someone came to poach him from the PS. Played in 2 regular season games in Dec/Jan - (20 Offensive & 26 STs plays).

 

[Huckleberry1]

My dream of drafting 2 TEs in this past draft looks even more important now.
Lot of really interesting TEs picked very late in the draft, or ended up as UDFA on other teams...ugh.

They already have a very good blocking TE in the roster, Tanner Arkin, Illinois.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Dippre might be the better option at blocking TE, but now they really need Raridon to contribute this year.

Crownover could find himself getting some snaps as a blocking TE - he actually was recruited to play TE out of high school and there's already been talk of him in a 6 lineman blocking scheme when needed

 

[Ian]

Per Vrabel - "He won't be able to play this season." Called it "Devastating," confirmed it was something that happened in practice.

 

[Ian]

Full quote:

On what went into the decision to put Julian Hill on IR:

"Julian won't be able to play the season. That's plain and simple. So, devastating, awful. I really enjoyed the person and want to have him around here as much as we possibly can. But just because he wouldn't be able to play this season. So, that's just disappointing because of just the impact that he made in a short amount of time with his teammates, and then just the person that he is, the way that he practiced. And, so again, we want Julian to be a part of us as much as possible. He's just not going to do that on the field this year."

 

[BTTA]

So they could dtr him but won't because he needs the full year to recover, if he can at all

 

[DaBruinz]

Full quote:

On what went into the decision to put Julian Hill on IR:

"Julian won't be able to play the season. That's plain and simple. So, devastating, awful. I really enjoyed the person and want to have him around here as much as we possibly can. But just because he wouldn't be able to play this season. So, that's just disappointing because of just the impact that he made in a short amount of time with his teammates, and then just the person that he is, the way that he practiced. And, so again, we want Julian to be a part of us as much as possible. He's just not going to do that on the field this year."

That makes it sound like he tore ligaments in his knee and probably is having surgery.

 

[Wozzy]

Crownover could find himself getting some snaps as a blocking TE - he actually was recruited to play TE out of high school and there's already been talk of him in a 6 lineman blocking scheme when needed

Or Lomu

 

[rochrist]

They didn't put the DTR tag on him.
Unless they do it retroactively somehow, his season's over.

Vrabel already said he’s done for the year.

 

[rochrist]

You can’t blame a GM for not knowing the guy was going to get injured.

Cap can!

 

[JoeSixPat]

Or Lomu

Nah - I don't think you risk injury for a needed backup LT and RT in training with a blocking TE assignment. Crownover would be my first choice among the linemen to put out there in that situation, especially since he's played TE before.

I was hopeful about Hill catching a few passes to keep Ds honest while out there even as a blocker as he had 15 catches last season and could do more with Maye.

BTW - Hill's injury reminds us of why Boutte and Gonzo were sitting out OTAs.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Vrabel already said he’s done for the year.

Not a bad season payout, earning $6.5 million for 3 and half days of OTAs

Let's hope he earns his $4 million next season and then some

 

[mayoclinic]

No player wants to get injured so they can collect a paycheck without playing.

 

[JohnJH]

Still plenty of time to figure out a backup plan.

As long as Dippre isn't a part of that Backup Plan, or we're screwed. There's a reason why he's been a PS Player.

 

[JohnJH]

Dippre Westover T.Arkin will battle for the 3rd TE spot

None of those 3 choices are any good.

 

[JohnJH]

I like Kmet, but the team did invest some draft capital in Raridon.
I am also interested in what Dippre can do.
I wasn't a fan of Westover, but seeing how he was used last year, I could also see Gilliam in more a move spot.

Westover isn't a TE and he isn't a FB. Dippre has been a PS Player for a reason.

 

[Ring 6]

Jonnu Smith is available, for what it’s worth.

Another guy who is available that would interest me is Debo Samuel. I’m not sure where he would fit, I’m but taking Brown, Boutte or Doubs off the field regularly to get him out there, but his balls to the wall style of play would fit in well here.

 

[mgteich]

Not a bad season payout, earning $6.5 million for 3 and half days of OTAs

Let's hope he earns his $4 million next season and then some

We all hope that Hill will be a contributor in 2027.

 

[imahobgoblin]

None of those 3 choices are any good.

You have never even seen Arkin. The dude is a beast of a blocker.

 

[patfanken]

Listening to Bedard on F and M's 3 up and 3 down segment and found this interesting and a bit sad. His #1 down of this OTA run was the injury to Hill. He said that he's heard that before the injury Hill was looking every bit as physical as advertised coming in as the "blockimg" TE, but Bedard heard that the Pats were surprised a bit in that he looked more fluid and athletic as a receiver than they expected. Kind of makes you more pissed off about losing him for the season. Not a good start with injuries this season.