Good morning, and a happy Sunday to all. Here is your Patriots news for 07-26, along with this week’s NFL notes. The Patriots’ 2026 training camp has begun, although there won’t be any pads worn until this coming week.
Mike Vrabel kicked things off on Friday as players took their individual conditioning tests, putting the onus of training camp squarely on his and his staff’s shoulders.
“We all have to build a team, and I have to do my best to prepare us to win,” Vrabel said.
“We’re going to start tomorrow by building and teaching, and going out the next day and be sure we get it fixed. The kind of football team I want to create is one that doesn’t make excuses, that doesn’t care what the environment is.
“A lot of things are going to come up. My job is to make sure that we’re prepared for whatever does happen.”
“We learned how to win (last year), but the journey we are getting ready to go on is not always going to be smooth sailing,” he added.
“We’d love to say we’re going to win 10 games in a row. I don’t know if that’s going to happen, but there’s going to be things on the field that we are going to have to deal with. There will be things off the field, personally, professionally, but that’s what we do.”
Jacas Signs Contract…Finally
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Patriots and the second-round draft choice have reached an agreement on a four-year, $8.6 million contract. This was very welcome news as the Patriots began their 2026 training camp just prior to the news breaking.
Jacas was one of two players selected in the draft who were left unsigned, the other being Rams quarterback Ty Simpson.
Jacas reportedly underwent what was characterized as “a clean-up procedure” on his left knee this offseason.
“We’re not going to get into the injuries. I mentioned that Gabe had a surgery to take care of some things, and that’s where we’re at,” Vrabel said. “And again, we’re going to evaluate him when he gets here. I know that (trainer) Jim (Whalen) and (strength coach) Frank (Piraino) have been in contact with him throughout the summer.”
He’ll have to be cleared by team doctors and pass his conditioning test before he can begin practicing, but just having him in the building tomorrow and taking part in team meetings is very important and is very good news for him and the team.
Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News
DeAndre Hopkins: Although he hasn’t retired yet, five-time Pro Bowl, three-time All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is exploring his opportunities for when that eventuality arises. And he is visiting the Patriots, considering a post-playing career as either a coach or in the personnel department.
“DeAndre Hopkins is here with us just to kind of check things out as far as what he wants to do as far as coaching. You’ll see him on the field,” Vrabel said.
“He asked if he could hang out for a couple of days and be around the coaches and around the personnel department. I called the league to make sure that was going to be okay, and then I invited him back.”
The Patriots and DHop have been connected for years with rumors of his coming to New England. Now, he’s here but working with the staff, not as a player.
Kayshon Boutte: Mark this under, not surprising at all. Entering training camp under a cloud of trade rumors (just like last summer), especially after the arrival of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, Boutte quickly displayed the chemistry he’s had with Drake Maye.
During an early 11-on-11 session (unpadded), Maye uncorked a ball deep down the left sideline and hit Boutte on a go route for a gain of about 40 yards.
“It’s nothing new,” Maye said about Boutte’s ability.
“You guys have seen it all year last year, and the year before. He just keeps doing things right. I’m proud of him for getting in there, jumping in there. He understands if he’s got something down the sideline, and a ball down the field, that he’s got a chance it’s coming his way. Great catch.”
NFI, PUP List: The Patriots begin the summer with four players, Brendan Schooler (NFI), RB Terrell Jennings (NFI), OLB Harold Landry III (PUP), and TE C.J. Dippre (PUP) on active NFI or PUP.
Roster Moves: The team signed TE Mitch Van Vooren and LB Riley Wilson earlier in the week, and then signed former BC tight end Jeremiah Franklin. The All-ACC player had 506 yards receiving and two scores as a senior.
In corresponding moves, the team released fullback Brock Lampe and waived Georgetown WR Jimmy Kibble with an injury designation. Lampe looked like he could be a starter early in training camp last summer, but he was injured and missed the entire year.
With the team signing FB Reggie Gilliam this spring, Lampe was a long shot to make the team.
Patriots No Huddle Podcast: Derek interviewed the outstanding Karen Guregian on the PatsFans.com website; unfortunately, I had internet issues and couldn’t make it. Mike has been fighting some health issues lately, but we’ll all be back together soon. You can always check out our other podcasts on our YouTube channel.
Please check it out. And be sure to like, share, and leave us a review.
Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriots tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots’ team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position.
We will continue to display this in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t even in the team’s HOF.
Kraft Says NE Has An Offer To Make Gonzalez The Top Paid CB
The other significant news coming out of training camp on Saturday was that the Patriots, it seems, are getting close to locking up Christian Gonzalez long term.
“We love Christian Gonzalez. We love him as a player and as a person. That’s why we’ve made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL, and, coincidentally, it’s the highest contract in Patriots’ franchise history,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said.
“So, we’re glad we drafted him, and he’s developed here, and we hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”
Kraft and his wife, Dana, spoke to media members about their Pawtriots program, which helps find homes for dogs with the players each taking part in the program. But Kraft was asked about his star corner and said what many in the region have been hoping to hear.
He Said It: Drake Maye was asked after practice about Gonzalez, and said he’s looked up to him since he arrived as a member of the team.
“I think that shows his main focus, and that’s football. He’s the best corner in the league in my opinion,” said Maye. “He’s not the big rah-rah guy.
“He does it his own way, but he does it at the highest level. So I’m glad to be his teammate. [We’re] around the same age, and I tell Will [Campbell] that he’s my rook because he’s – I was a first-round pick, and Will’s the next.”
“But, Gonzo, someone I look up to, even at the same age, I look up to how he does things, how he handles himself, and just his swagger he has in his own way. I think it’s great to see him out here playing around. And I think you saw it in the locker room before. Everybody was wondering, ‘What’s Gonzo gonna do?’, and he’s coming out here and, first play, he’s guarding AJ and man coverage. So that’s the Patriots.”
Kraft On The Pawtriots Adoption Program
“I’m glad that 50 dogs who are homeless are going to have a nice home after this. And we’re raising this awareness.
“I didn’t realize until we got our little Iceman 5 years ago the impact that dogs can have and the joy they bring, especially in a world where there’s so much internet and people isolated. Dogs really create that family togetherness. And so we need more of that in America today. So I’m very proud of Dana for setting this up.”
“And to all the players and to the coach for participating, and a special shout-out to Bryce and Bella Barringer, who are offsetting some of the adoption costs at all the shelters today. So people have really gone above and beyond. They did that on their own, so it’s really nice.”
“Well, we thank you all for being here, and let’s go!”
_______________
“Somebody asked me what success looks like, and I said, ‘Yeah, you can judge it by wins and losses during the season, but success for me in the offseason is going to be that the players believe in what we’re doing, and they believe in the message, they believe in the teaching, and they believe in the connections that we’re making.’” — Mike Vrabel
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
Listen to our PatsFans.com Patriots No Huddle podcasts on Apple and YouTube as Derek Havens, Mike D’Abate, and I discuss the latest Patriots news and game analysis.
Support Steve and buy him a coffee.
Support Us: Help Us Compete Against The Corporate Media Giants
We need your help. If you enjoy our content, please help us beat Google's Corporate algorithm by adding us as a preferred source on Google News.
Click the button below and check the box next to "PatsFans.com"
Add as a preferred source on Google News
A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)
