New England Patriots linebacker Gabe Jacas is finally getting into a rhythm at training camp, with his workload steadily climbing since his debut on Saturday. This past Tuesday marked the rookie’s most intense participation yet, a huge step after signing his rookie deal on July 26, making him one of the last two NFL rookies to ink a contract. Jacas even snagged a handful of reps with the second-team defense during team periods and was out there for the unit’s end-of-practice two-minute drill, holding Tommy DeVito’s offense to a successful field goal try with just 1:05 on the clock. That’s clutch for a rookie trying to prove himself!
“All That Stuff Is Behind Me:” Jacas On His Injury History
The road to Foxborough wasn’t exactly smooth for the Illinois product. Jacas dealt with a pre-draft hamstring injury, but there’s more. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported back in June that Jacas also underwent a cleanup knee procedure. Get this: the Patriots actually put a left knee injury waiver right into his rookie deal. Talk about a red flag that makes you sit up and pay attention! But when reporters grilled him about his medical status and all the time he missed this offseason, Jacas didn’t flinch. He repeatedly shot back that the whole situation is behind him, his knee is “good,” and he is “100%.” He stressed, “Whatever happened in the past is just the past. Trying to look forward and focus on the future.” The 22-year-old insists he doesn’t have any long-term concerns, saying, “Whenever they tell me I’m good to go, I just go.”
Vrabel Is All Hands On Deck For Jacas’s Development
Head coach Mike Vrabel is clearly on a mission with Jacas. Vrabel flat out said Tuesday, “We’ve got to make up for lost time, I think, a little bit with Gabe.” That explains the increased workload! Vrabel praised Jacas’s effort, saying he’s “working hard,” “into it,” “trying to learn,” and “focused.” He knows a lot of this is new for the rookie and credits Jacas for “controlling what he can control.” Vrabel sees the bigger picture, mentioning that Jacas is doing a good job getting “acclimated to the special teams stuff,” a notorious challenge for young players. In fact, Vrabel has been spending extensive one-on-one time with Jacas, working punt team reps to get him up to speed. Jacas is digging it too. He called Vrabel a “very hands-on coach” and appreciates him taking the time to teach him techniques to be a “better punt protector so I can be better for this team.” It’s awesome to see that trust building already!
With Jacas feeling 100% and clearly making big strides in practice, even tackling the tough world of special teams, you’ve got to wonder how fast he can integrate into this defense. The Patriots definitely need him to keep adding things and figuring out where he can help, both defensively and on special teams. This isn’t just about getting reps, it’s about him proving that knee waiver was just a bump in the road and he’s ready to roll.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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