New England Patriots
“I would say that he’s closer to the return-to-play element that we talk about a lot.”
Gabe Jacas is getting closer and closer to a return. (AP Photo/CJ Gunther)
July 30, 2026 | 11:06 AM
2 minutes to read
FOXBOROUGH — Reinforcements might be on the way for New England’s thin pass-rushing corps.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that 2026 second-round pick Gabe Jacas is getting closer and closer to a return to the practice field.
“Gabe continues to progress well,” Vrabel said. “I would say that he’s closer to the return-to-play element that we talk about a lot. (He’s) transitioning to (director of sports performance) Frank (Piraino) and his crew and getting closer. So, excited about that.”
Jacas — who finally signed his rookie contract in New England last weekend after an extended stalemate — has been sidelined for most of the offseason after undergoing a procedure to clean up an ailing knee issue.
Despite finally putting pen to paper on his contract, Jacas needs more time to get the green light to practice, as New England placed the former Illinois standout on the non-football injury list on Sunday.
Players who are on the NFI list are not allowed to practice. Players who stay on the NFI list after cutdown day must go on injured reserve. New England can activate Jacas at any time.
It’s been a roller-coaster stretch for Jacas since New England selected him with the 55th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss noted in a social-media post over the weekend that Jacas’s contract situation is “unique” — with the edge rusher’s deal including an injury waiver for his left knee.
Reiss previously reported this offseason that Jacas had a “clean up” procedure done on the knee during the spring, which at one point had not been disclosed to the team.
Even with Jacas’s lack of participation during OTAs or mandatory minicamp, Vrabel noted on Monday that he doesn’t expect the rookie pass-rusher to be at risk for missing his entire rookie campaign.
“Nothing is 100 percent. I don’t anticipate that whatsoever. I don’t. I am excited where he is at,” Vrabel said. “I am excited that he wants to be here, he wants to get going, and he does not want to be on the field with the trainer, I will tell you that. He wants to get back out there, play ball and be the player that we drafted and wanted to be here.”
Jacas has been present at camp over the last few days — taking in Tuesday’s practice while wearing a long-sleeve shirt and shorts while also visiting the team facility during New England’s off-day on Wednesday to work with New England’s outside linebackers coach, Mike Smith.
“He wants to be out there as soon as he possibly can,” Vrabel said. “I told everybody this, and I told Gabe this, that there would be a return-to-play (period) when he got back. He’s attentive in meetings, and he’s watching practice, and he came in on his off-day and met with Smitty and did all those things that he needed to do.”
While Jacas is getting closer and closer to a return, Vrabel added that the rookie is “closer to coming back” than veteran Harold Landry — who is on the physically unable to perform list due to a knee injury.
If Landry remains sidelined, New England could use a player like Jacas in short order — with the 6-foot-4 linebacker/edge recording 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 13.5 tackles for loss last season with Illinois.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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