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

Arrington, Hochinstein, Gorin, were not here as a rookies.

My guideline was the last 20 years. Most of your group is longer, though the rest are examples of successes.
I specifically said "NOT AS ROOKIES" in my post,.
Are you saying developing a player means hiding him?

There must be more than a dozen rookies on our practice squad every year and only about a total of 4 have amounted to anything within our organization in 20 years.

In 2025, the Pats had 9 rookies who spent time on the Practice Squad. That is if you count Cam Riley who was on it for a day.
In 2024, The Pats had just 5 rookies spend time on the PS.
In 2023. The Pats had 5 or 6 rookies spend time on the PS.

I wasn't disagreeing with your take in your original post. I was agreeing with you and that it doesn't happen often that the Pats have a rookie come off the PS to contribute. And many times, it's players who were drafted by or originally signed by another team. Such as with Hochstein, Ashworth, Arrington, etc.
 
Anybody else feel like gushing over an injured tight end while downplaying the talk-of-the-offseason WR pickup might be protesting too much?
 
And are there non-murdery tight ends available? Did Kelce ever sign? Does he want a year rental while KC realizes they need another QB? Hey Taylor could rhyme “ACL” with “all too well.” Oh shoot she never rhymes that with anything.

Then you call my number just to break me like a play
Designed to got for 20 in your healthier days
Maybe you tore up your masterpiece like an MCL
Cause I remember it all too well

There was that so feckin hard
 
David Andrews, Malcolm Butler, Jonathan Jones and Troy Brown were all practice squad players at one point. That's one of the silliest arguments I've heard.

Dippre was quickly moved up to the 53 man roster last season when another team tried poaching him. He made the roster and played in two games. If he has busted his tail this offseason he is massive, strong and has the athleticism you look for in a blocking TE.
By your logic, every 6th Round Pick will be a Brady or the like.
 
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.

A lot of those guys are headed for practice squads. The Patriots will be studying pre-season tape on every young tight end. It's very likely they'll pick one up from cutdown waivers.
 
By your logic, every 6th Round Pick will be a Brady or the like.
Why?

I’ve said 1st round picks like Dominique Easley, 2nd round picks like Duke Dawson and 3rd round picks like Ronnie Perkins sucked in real-time. These guys were not athletic and terrible picks and I said so.

Meanwhile I’ve had a long history of pointing out UDFA’s who were athletic and had a strong chance to make the NFL based on that athleticism. It’s not because I can see the future.

They measure athleticism at the combine and pro days, we can view a prospects body of work in their stats. I’m not high on Dippre because I like his name or think he has a cool haircut.

Draft position or getting drafted at all doesn’t mean crap after it’s over. The only thing that matters is how one plays.
 
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.

You weren't the only one who wanted them to double dip at TE. Though the two guys I wanted went much higher than expected. Unfortunately, we'll get to see both Twice a year for at least the next 2 years.
 
GEORGE: What Do The Patriots Really Have In Brown?
MORSE: Brown 1st Day, Open Patriots OTA Practice, Raymond Berry Passes Away
McDaniels Praises Rookie Caleb Lomu’s Versatility, ‘Awesome Kid’
Patriots Coach Expected to Miss Time Ahead of Training Camp
TRANSCRIPT: Josh McDaniels Press Conference 6/2
Vrabel Addresses Christian Gonzalez’s Contract Situation, Practice Status
TRANSCRIPT: A.J. Brown Press Conference 6/2
Vrabel Calls TE Hill’s Injury “Devastating” – Confirms Veteran Will Miss 2026
TRANSCRIPT: Mike Vrabel Press Conference 6/2
MORSE: AJ Brown Trade Reactions, Onwenu’s Restructure, and Hill on IR
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