FOXBOROUGH, Mass – Gabe Jacas isn't ready to hit the practice fields yet. But, head coach Mike Vrabel said that the rookie edge defender is getting close.
“Gabe continues to progress well,” Vrabel said ahead of Thursday's training camp practice. “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 was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but has been away from the team for most of the spring and the beginning of the summer. He made an appearance at rookie minicamp, but didn't take part as he had undergone a knee procedure after the draft.
And with that, there were issues with the contract negotiations that made it so he didn't officially sign until Saturday, July 25, with the news breaking in the middle of the first training camp practice.
However, while he came in quite behind, Vrabel praised his approach every day and said that it's only a matter of time.
“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.”
But he's not the only edge defender that the Patriots are waiting to get back. Veteran rusher Harold Landry suffered a knee injury last season and hasn't fully recovered it seems, which led to him being placed on the physically unable to perform list to start camp.
So, could he be coming back soon along with Jacas?
“I probably would say Gabe’s closer to coming back than Harold,” Vrabel said.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Mike Vrabel: Gabe Jacas 'closer' to returning than Harold Landry
