New England Patriots edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones, who suffered a shoulder injury in last week's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, has kicked off the 2026 NFL season on a high note.
Pro Football Focus ranked Jones No. 13 overall among all NFL edge defenders after the Week 2 slate of games.
“Jones has been highly productive on a small pass-rush sample,” the PFF staff said. “He has generated seven pressures — one sack, three hits and three hurries — from only 33 rushes, producing a 21.2% pressure rate and 24.2% win rate. He has done so despite facing a double-team on 42.4% of those snaps.”
Jones has begun his Patriots tenure with strong play in both of the team’s games so far. The veteran has supplied pressure off the edge while helping the unit hold
up against the run.
Jones was forecasted to have a breakout season in 2026 leading up to the start of the year, and he has shown that he is capable of putting up career numbers. With his sustained level of play, double-digit sacks may be in store for him this year.
The veteran Jones gives the Patriots another dependable presence on defense. Through two weeks, Jones has emerged as a key contributor for a Patriots team looking to establish a dominant defensive presence.
A continued strong start from Jones may help New England generate more turnovers and give its offense additional opportunities to execute as the season continues.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots underrated defender cracks top-15 in edge rusher rankings
