Pats Pulpit
Two of the New England Patriots’ top edge rushers, rookie Gabe Jacas and veteran Harold Landry, are question marks with mandatory minicamp set to take place Tuesday through Thursday. In the two OTA practices open to the media on June 2 and May 27, neither was among the participants.
This comes after the Patriots opted to improve at that position group this offseason, signing veteran Dre’Mont Jones in free agency and selecting Jacas in the second round of the NFL Draft.
New England ranked in the top 10 in the league in pressure rate in 2025, but its top sack producers, Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson, only combined for 16 sacks, and a team total of 35 — tying for 22nd in the league. Evidently, the team felt it could upgrade and let Chaisson walk in free agency.
On May 29, appearing on NFL Live, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler listed the Patriots as a potential “sleeper” trade candidate for the New York Giants’ former fifth overall selection in 2022, Kayvon Thibodeaux. New England may also have some ammunition in return, with wide receiver Kayshon Boutte showing apparent interest in a trade out of Foxboro.
With uncertainty currently looming over a group that needed more production, another addition makes sense.
There’s currently no clarification as to why Jacas has yet to practice with the team, but a pre-draft hamstring injury forced Jacas to host a private workout session on April 2 after missing the NFL Combine and Illinois’ pro day.
Patriots ESPN reporter Mike Reiss recently shared on the Patriots Real Time Podcast that the rookie could actually return to the field soon.
“I would be surprised if it was the [rookie] contract,” Reiss said. “I was told by someone that I feel like would have the information, that [Jacas] should be back soon. So to me, I don’t sense that this is any major alarm.”
Spring practices are crucial for rookies to get acclimated to the NFL physically, mentally and schematically. It’ll be important to see when Jacas returns and how quickly he gets up to speed on the practice field.
If Jacas misses mandatory minicamp next week, and he’s healthy enough to participate for the start of training camp, that means he’ll be looking at a return in mid-to-late July, when the rookies report to Foxboro.
Jacas is a rookie who’s projected to make a significant impact for New England in 2026 and likely has the most immediate expectations out of the draft class. The Patriots are already relying on a group still taking shape, which makes a healthy and timely return increasingly important.
As for Landry, he also has yet to participate in spring practices this offseason after undergoing surgery on his injured knee.
The 2025 defensive captain suffered the injury during Week Six against the New Orleans Saints last season and reaggravated it in Week 12 away in Cincinnati. At the end of the year, Landry was ruled out for the...
