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

[Clonamery]

Bad sign overpay

You’re so ****ing funny! Where you been hiding?

 

[jboston19]

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

The way I’m reading that is at the 53 man cutdown he can be designated to return then.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

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

As I pointed out above, from what I remember of the memo they released at the time, they can only make that designation on the final cutdown day, for players they put on IR on that day.

 

[TommyD4207]

The way I’m reading that is at the 53 man cutdown he can be designated to return then.

I hope that's true. I thought they had to put the DTR tag on immediately.

 

[Brady85-23]

You’re so ****ing funny! Where you been hiding?

There's no hiding in 2026!

 

[ctpatsfan77]

In any case, until they find a replacement for Hill, the main beneficiaries of this move are Mack Hollins and Efton Chism, their best blocking WRs.

 

[Brady85-23]

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

 

[borisman]

If the plan for Hill is to be out for the season then does this open up a roster spot right away?

 

[jdlboot14]

Everyone talking about whether DTR can apply... But not one word about what happened?
Was he injured? Off the field? What the heck is it, and why isn't it reported?

Ultimately, I don't think much will be lost in production. Maybe once they saw Gilliam run the TE seam route in OTA's the thought they'll be fine. But, also - Dippre or Westover may snag that spot now.

 

[Ross12]

Sucks, but Dippre can block pretty well, hopefully he can step up.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

If the plan for Hill is to be out for the season then does this open up a roster spot right away?

IIRC players on IR still count toward the 90-man(*) roster limit. I believe they released someone last week to provide the roster spot Brown filled.

(*) Or 91-man, since the Pats have an international player.

 

[BobDigital]

I would be surprised if Hill is not back this year at some point. It have to be a really bad injury to knock him out for the year before June even starts. I think ideally they would like him back and he is worth a DTR tag. They paid him a decent chunk so they for sure see value in him on the roster. Until i hear for sure he is out for the year i will assume we will see him dress at some point. Hell, Mahomes is back from an ACL and LCL practicing already with them eyeing week 1. This is a similar timeline from now to the playoffs. Not much shorter. And we don't even know if it is that serious. And he probably won't be asked to move as laterally.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I would be surprised if Hill is not back this year at some point. It have to be a really bad injury to knock him out for the year before June even starts. I think ideally they would like him back and he is worth a DTR tag. They paid him a decent chunk so they for sure see value in him on the roster. Until i hear for sure he is out for the year i will assume we will see him dress at some point. Hell, Mahomes is back from an ACL and LCL practicing already with them eyeing week 1. This is a similar timeline from now to the playoffs.

I am currently taking the opposite view: until I affirmatively hear he can be activated, I am assuming he is done for the year.

 

[TommyD4207]

Hell, Mahomes is back from an ACL and LCL practicing already with them eyeing week 1.

Yeah, him limping back in a 5-step drop and not putting any pressure on his leg to throw on his release was awe-inspiring.

 

[WinstonSmith]

I'm now glad that I was too lazy to start my "Hunter Henry surprise cut candidate" thread

 

[PatsFan2]

Hated the signing useless I wanted both Sam Roush and Raridon.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

How on earth did bro get hurt already? NFI?

Well, there’s time of they feel like blocking TE still needs another body. He wasn’t going to catch a lot of balls. You can find a blocker.

 

[imahobgoblin]

Hello Tanner Arkin. He is an absolute beast and rock in the running game. Next man up.

 

[BTTA]

Hope that it is a football thing and not an illness.

 

[captain stone]

WTF?…Are we trading for Brock Bowers??…

Way to go Eliot, you f-f-****ing m-m-moron. Today is the Beginning of your End here.