"DE" Weakest Link

[n1997y]

Link to Reiss’s actual article. Kind of vague you are right, BUT what surprised me was that outsiders flagged a torn labrum, stress fracture in his foot, and the “knee cleanup” in question. What Reiss wrote left the door open that the knee wasn’t a known issue.

To me, labrum, foot, knee = “we aren’t paying you fully of you miss time for those. “ I assumed that was standard for rookies with medical issues.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49046571/why-new-england-patriots-gabe-jacas-contract-absent-team

I can see it being contentious about pre-existing conditions. After all coverage for those is still screwing up our national healthcare policy.

But I’m also taking the labrum and foot issues with a grain of salt. Those are reportedly findings from two other teams, with the evaluation that they might potentially cause future problems that might require surgery. Lots of hedging, from examinations designed to protect their team interests by finding every potential problem. Past player evaluations have shown that one team’s medical staff can find something problematic when another team’s staff finds it no problem.

I’ve been wondering if something came up during all the pre-draft activities and examinations that resulted in him scheduling a routine cleanup, thinking it’s NBD so not putting out a PR release announcing it to the world, and somebody in the Pats’ FO getting a hairbecause they weren’t told. It may not even be Vrabel making waves about it, which would explain his annoyance over the issue.

 

[stinkypete]

My mistake. I didn't realize that both Landry and Jacas had moved to Off the Ball Linebacker. I thought they were Edge players. But given that you are the only person who is able to divine what conversations take place inside the front offices I will defer to you.

Who is going to replace them at Edge?

Jacas' position was named as linebacker when he was drafted, FWIW.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Jacas' position was named as linebacker when he was drafted, FWIW.

That keeps being thrown around and the description of positions are going down the NBA path. He’s not playing MLB which is now called “off ball LB”. He’ll be playing OLB which is also called “Edge”. So yes, he is a LB.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Jacas' position was named as linebacker when he was drafted, FWIW.

I think historically that was true, but now pass rushing OLB are considered to be Edge players

 

[PatMan]

Jacas is on pace not to play until 2027... And that's honestly probably fine.

Patriot's linebacker room currently has...
Dre'Mont Jones
Robert Spillane
KJ Britt
Harold Landry III
Christian Ellis
Jesse Lukita
Elijah Ponder
Amari Gainer
Chad Muma
Xavier Holmes
Quintavious Hutchins
Khalil Jacobs
Otis Reese
Bradyn Swinson
Namdi Obiazor

There's a lot of competition in that one room.






Jesse Luketa Highlights | Welcome to the Patriots
Elijah Ponder - 2025 NFL Season Highlights - New England Patriots
Chad Muma Highlights | Welcome to the Colts
Amari Gainer FREAKISH LINEBACKER Highlights ᴴᴰ
Quintavious Hutchins 2024 Regular Season Highlights | Boston College Defensive Lineman
Khalil Jacobs Highlights | New England Patriots Linebacker | Missouri | 2026 NFL Draft
Namdi Obiazor College Highlights, TCU Linebacker | New England Patriots 2026 NFL Draft Pick
Bradyn Swinson Highlights | Welcome to the Patriots

 

[captain stone]

Vrabel actually did talk about this today and he seems pretty happy with who they have:

On what he said yesterday about Diggs and the receiver position, and if he feels similarly with the edge with Gabe [Jacas] and Harold Landry rehabbing and that position:

“No, I like— that’s a good group. I’m glad, I’m excited about adding Dre [Dre’Mont Jones], the development of [Elijah] Ponder and [Bradyn] Swinson, added [Jesse] Luketa and some young guys. And, I think that, that, I mean, again, we’ll continue to try to look at every position and make it stronger, but that group has done a nice job. And, again, we’ll continue to look at it, but, we’ll have to see where we’re at from a numbers-wise. And then when we get into training camp, but, just how many guys you can rep, based on the practices."

TRANSCRIPT: Mike Vrabel Press Conference 6/11 | PatsFans.com

Here's the full transcript of what New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel had to say during his press conference on Thursday, June 11th, 2026.

www.patsfans.com

That sounds about as convincing as We spent the weekend with friends...

 

[captain stone]

we were all excited with Jacas.
but as a rookie, he needed to be here on day 1, stacking practices and improvements, day after day.
I was hoping game 1, he was a strong contributor.
now we hear "recovering from a procedure" and as of yet, not signed. until he is out there at 100%, he is a question mark.

Swinson apparently is in better shape and could have a chance

Landry is the key. If we get back pre injury Landry, and there is enough depth to keep him fresh.

I like the group, but everyone needs to be available and 100% ready/healthy

If everyone is in peak physical condition and, as we used to say in the Corps, highly motivated and truly dedicated, then we can go 5 deep. Holmes & Luketa aren't NFL players; and knowing that Hutchins still has keys to the building offends me. And he ain't all that either, not by a damn sight.

Seems to me that we're still one short. One good one too.

 

[captain stone]

Sign josh paschal

I liked him during the 2022 draft process; though I thought he was over-drafted a bit by the Loins... Don't know how recovered he is from his back surgery; and even if that needle is indeed pointing upwards, I haven't been impressed with his disruption production during pass attempts anyway... Pass.

 

[captain stone]

Rain,

Keep an eye on Carl Davis really believe he brought something to the Defensive line last year and his snap count increased as the season wore on really believe he's a disruptive force and with farmer coming on in year 2 we could be talking about an really good defensive line group.

Who?

 

[mgteich]

Seems to me that we're still one short. One good one too.

If Landry and Jacas aren't part of the 4-player mix with Jones and Ponder, then I agree that we are indeed one short.

 

[captain stone]

If Landry and Jacas aren't part of the 4-player mix with Jones and Ponder, then I agree that we are indeed one short.

If they aren't, then we're 3 short.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Jacas is on pace not to play until 2027... And that's honestly probably fine.

No it isn't.

There's a lot of competition in that one room.

Not really.

Landry's snaps plummeted compared to 2024 and I see that trend continuing for 2026. The team would prefer he subs in on obvious pass rushing downs to keep him fresh throughout the season.

Jones is a JAG on his 4th team in 3 years.

Ponder (undrafted) and Swinson (5th round) have a year on Jacas, but are low round to undrafted players.

Jacas shouldn't be scared off by Jones, Ponder and Swinson.

The other LB's you mentioned are either not competing with him or irrelevant.

There is plenty of opportunity for Jacas to get playing time this season. If he doesn't, history shows it's a very good indicator something is wrong.

 

[Ring 6]

That keeps being thrown around and the description of positions are going down the NBA path. He’s not playing MLB which is now called “off ball LB”. He’ll be playing OLB which is also called “Edge”. So yes, he is a LB.

Which in our defense is really a defensive end

 

[Ring 6]

Jacas is on pace not to play until 2027... And that's honestly probably fine.

Patriot's linebacker room currently has...
Dre'Mont Jones
Robert Spillane
KJ Britt
Harold Landry III
Christian Ellis
Jesse Lukita
Elijah Ponder
Amari Gainer
Chad Muma
Xavier Holmes
Quintavious Hutchins
Khalil Jacobs
Otis Reese
Bradyn Swinson
Namdi Obiazor

There's a lot of competition in that one room.






Jesse Luketa Highlights | Welcome to the Patriots
Elijah Ponder - 2025 NFL Season Highlights - New England Patriots
Chad Muma Highlights | Welcome to the Colts
Amari Gainer FREAKISH LINEBACKER Highlights ᴴᴰ
Quintavious Hutchins 2024 Regular Season Highlights | Boston College Defensive Lineman
Khalil Jacobs Highlights | New England Patriots Linebacker | Missouri | 2026 NFL Draft
Namdi Obiazor College Highlights, TCU Linebacker | New England Patriots 2026 NFL Draft Pick
Bradyn Swinson Highlights | Welcome to the Patriots

How is he “on pace” to miss the season?

If you are including DE with LBs we need 5 who play regularly plus reserves.
There are 3 starting caliber players on your list and a number of jags, or practice squad level guys.

 

[mgteich]

If they aren't, then we're 3 short.

Our base is 5 DB's. Often 6 are on the field. We usually have 2-4 DL's on the field, almong with 1 or 3 ILB's.

Just how many EDGE players do you think that we need?

 

[captain stone]

Our base is 5 DB's. Often 6 are on the field. We usually have 2-4 DL's on the field, almong with 1 or 3 ILB's.

Just how many EDGE players do you think that we need?

4-5 on the 53; and 1-2 Next Man Up types on the PS.

 

[PatMan]

How is he “on pace” to miss the season?

If you are including DE with LBs we need 5 who play regularly plus reserves.
There are 3 starting caliber players on your list and a number of jags, or practice squad level guys.

Well... 2027 is the back half of the season.

He's a rookie who didn't play for a top college program, who is apparently recovering from multiple surgeries/injuries, and who is not attending camps or learning the system while the 15 other linebackers under contract are all doing just that... He's falling behind.

And btw I wouldn't be so quick to write off the Patriot's list of linebackers. The majority of those linebackers had similarly impactful college careers to what Jacas put up at Illinois plus they have NFL experience and now they're being coached by Mike Vrabel.

Vrabel himself was a JAG before becoming a Patriot's Hall of Famer. He also has a tendency as a coach to take JAG linebackers and make them upper-tier NFL starters.

 

[Wozzy]

That sounds about as convincing as We spent the weekend with friends...

Why?

DE – Milton Williams, Dre’Mont Jones,
OLB – Harold Landry, Elijah Ponder, Gabe Jacas, Bradyn Swinson, Jesse Luketa,

MLB – Robert Spillane, Chad Muma, Khalil Jacobs, Amari Gainer,
WLB – Christian Elliss, Namdi Obiazor,

Vrabe's is correct, this is a real good group of talent at edge and ILB. I like it.

There's more projection with the rookies and second year players at OLB, you just have no imagination.

 

[Ring 6]

Well... 2027 is the back half of the season.

He's a rookie who didn't play for a top college program, who is apparently recovering from multiple surgeries/injuries, and who is not attending camps or learning the system while the 15 other linebackers under contract are all doing just that... He's falling behind.

And btw I wouldn't be so quick to write off the Patriot's list of linebackers. The majority of those linebackers had similarly impactful college careers to what Jacas put up at Illinois plus they have NFL experience and now they're being coached by Mike Vrabel.

Vrabel himself was a JAG before becoming a Patriot's Hall of Famer. He also has a tendency as a coach to take JAG linebackers and make them upper-tier NFL starters.

If he can’t play until January he would be IRd

He played in the Big10

Multiple? Where are you getting that from?
Counting him with inside linebackers is ignorant.
He missed 3 days of practice.

The rest is just non-sensical.

 

[Ring 6]

Our base is 5 DB's. Often 6 are on the field. We usually have 2-4 DL's on the field, almong with 1 or 3 ILB's.

Just how many EDGE players do you think that we need?

He’s right. If Landry and Jacas are not available we have 1 NFL caliber edge player on the roster.