Jeremiah Webb’s sophomore season is already toast after just two practices, with the New England Patriots officially placing the wide receiver on injured reserve on Sunday. This brutal move slams the door shut on Webb’s 2026 campaign, unless there is an injury settlement down the line. It means the team is already shuffling its roster just as things were heating up, and you have to wonder what this early hit means for team depth.
Webb’s Shot at Proving Himself is Gone, Just Like That
Talk about a gut punch to kick off the year! Webb, a 25-year-old talent, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2025. This dude really fought for his spot, flashing some serious potential during his rookie preseason, pulling in six passes for 80 yards and even snagging a touchdown. But the journey has been a grinder since day one: he was waived at the 53-man roster deadline last August, went unclaimed on the league wire, then eventually landed on the practice squad. He even got elevated for the wild card game against the Los Angeles Chargers back in January, earning a futures contract in February. He was clearly working to establish himself, fighting for every rep. Now, all that hard-earned momentum is gone, sidelined before he could truly show what he’s got in year two. Placing him on IR opens up a 91-man roster spot, officially taking him off the active limit. It’s a harsh reminder of how quickly things can change in this league, especially for players battling for a consistent role.
New Second-Round Talent Already Sidelined
While Webb’s season came to an immediate halt, the Patriots also made another significant roster move, officially signing outside linebacker Gabe Jacas, their No. 55 overall pick in the 2026 class. This guy is a big deal, fresh out of Illinois, securing a hefty four-year, $8.6 million rookie contract. That’s a serious investment in talent right there. However, the excitement around his signing immediately took a hit. Jacas hasn’t even touched the practice field yet and has already been moved to the active/non-football injury list. That’s a rough start for a guy you just dropped a second-round pick and millions of dollars on. He is not alone there either; running back Terrell Jennings and special teams captain Brenden Schooler are also on the NFI list, unable to practice.
And it does not stop there. The Patriots are also dealing with tight end C.J. Dippre and veteran edge Harold Landry III, both currently residing on the physically unable to perform list. The silver lining for the NFI list guys like Jacas, Jennings, and Schooler is that they are all eligible to begin practicing at any point during training camp. But let’s be real: it’s never ideal when your high-round draft pick and other key players aren’t out there getting reps from day one, especially a rookie who needs to learn the system and build chemistry. This just means more hurdles to clear for the coaching staff before the regular season even kicks off.
The team has a walkthrough scheduled for Monday morning at 10 a.m. ET. With so many players dealing with early season injuries and unavailability, every single day counts. Getting everyone healthy and ready to go is absolutely critical for their outlook, and this many key guys sidelined right now is not the start anyone wanted.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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