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The story behind Gabe Jacas' absence from the New England Patriots' spring practices has more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie novel.
Yet, the most stunning revelation is the fact that Patriots coach Mike Vrabel hasn't been able to work with him at all. The team traded away the No. 63, No. 131 and No. 202 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft to move up the board and select the standout edge rusher from Illinois.
And since that moment, at least so publicly—crickets.
"Not at all," Vrabel told media members when asked if he had worked with Jacas. "We have talked, communicated and met him numerous times before the draft process, but not on the grass."
So what is going on? Why is Jacas the lone second-round draft pick who has yet to sign his rookie contract?
The answer to that question isn't straightforward, but ESPN's Mike Reiss tried to make sense of the situation in his Sunday notes column. Jacas attended the Patriots' rookie minicamp and could be seen watching practice from the sidelines.
But just because Jacas hadn't signed his rookie deal didn't mean he couldn't practice. Patriots first-round draft pick Caleb Lomu participated in the rookie minicamp, despite remaining unsigned at the time. Reiss pointed out the hamstring injury that Jacas suffered during the predraft process that kept him from participating in the NFL combine. However, it wasn't only a hamstring issue for the 22-year-old defender, reportedly.
Reiss wrote:
"Two sources from different NFL teams said their clubs gave Jacas a passing grade on his physical exam, although both noted a labral tear in his shoulder that could eventually require medical attention, and one noted a stress fracture in his foot that could potentially worsen over time.
But a source familiar with Jacas' recovery said he underwent a knee procedure that was described as a "clean-up." It is not known whether something happened after Jacas' physical exam and subsequent recheck at the combine, or when the Patriots had him in for a predraft visit the week of April 20, and that information wasn't disclosed to the team."
One "high-ranking official," per Reiss, guessed that the Patriots could be pushing for financial protection in the contract. With that said, Reiss reported that there is hope that Jacas would be ready to participate in training camp. The problem is the fact that he has already missed the early defensive installment throughout the offseason.
As great as the physical talent jumps out on paper, he would be playing catch-up when it comes to learning the defense and utilizing that knowledge at the NFL level.
Another source informed Reiss that one of the reasons for Jacas' absence is that the team hasn't given him a participation agreement, which is a temporary contract for unsigned rookie draft picks. It's an agreement that assures a rookie, if he is injured ahead of signing his first NFL deal, that he would still get the same contract he would have received when healthy, based on draft status.
With all of those things in consideration, it would appear as if the Patriots and Jacas are at an impasse with no way of possibly knowing how it will end. The Patriots seem willing to continue on with business as usual, despite Jacas being away from the team and Harold Landry III still dealing with injuries.
“No… that’s a good group," Vrabel said when asked about making a move at edge rusher. "I’m excited about adding Dre [Jones], the development of [Elijah] Ponder and [Bradyn] Swinson, added [Jesse] Luketa and some young guys. Again, we'll continue to try to look at every position and make it stronger, but that group has done a nice job."
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Latest update on Patriots rookie Gabe Jacas paints messy situation
Continue reading...
Yet, the most stunning revelation is the fact that Patriots coach Mike Vrabel hasn't been able to work with him at all. The team traded away the No. 63, No. 131 and No. 202 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft to move up the board and select the standout edge rusher from Illinois.
And since that moment, at least so publicly—crickets.
"Not at all," Vrabel told media members when asked if he had worked with Jacas. "We have talked, communicated and met him numerous times before the draft process, but not on the grass."
So what is going on? Why is Jacas the lone second-round draft pick who has yet to sign his rookie contract?
The answer to that question isn't straightforward, but ESPN's Mike Reiss tried to make sense of the situation in his Sunday notes column. Jacas attended the Patriots' rookie minicamp and could be seen watching practice from the sidelines.
But just because Jacas hadn't signed his rookie deal didn't mean he couldn't practice. Patriots first-round draft pick Caleb Lomu participated in the rookie minicamp, despite remaining unsigned at the time. Reiss pointed out the hamstring injury that Jacas suffered during the predraft process that kept him from participating in the NFL combine. However, it wasn't only a hamstring issue for the 22-year-old defender, reportedly.
Reiss wrote:
"Two sources from different NFL teams said their clubs gave Jacas a passing grade on his physical exam, although both noted a labral tear in his shoulder that could eventually require medical attention, and one noted a stress fracture in his foot that could potentially worsen over time.
But a source familiar with Jacas' recovery said he underwent a knee procedure that was described as a "clean-up." It is not known whether something happened after Jacas' physical exam and subsequent recheck at the combine, or when the Patriots had him in for a predraft visit the week of April 20, and that information wasn't disclosed to the team."
One "high-ranking official," per Reiss, guessed that the Patriots could be pushing for financial protection in the contract. With that said, Reiss reported that there is hope that Jacas would be ready to participate in training camp. The problem is the fact that he has already missed the early defensive installment throughout the offseason.
As great as the physical talent jumps out on paper, he would be playing catch-up when it comes to learning the defense and utilizing that knowledge at the NFL level.
Another source informed Reiss that one of the reasons for Jacas' absence is that the team hasn't given him a participation agreement, which is a temporary contract for unsigned rookie draft picks. It's an agreement that assures a rookie, if he is injured ahead of signing his first NFL deal, that he would still get the same contract he would have received when healthy, based on draft status.
With all of those things in consideration, it would appear as if the Patriots and Jacas are at an impasse with no way of possibly knowing how it will end. The Patriots seem willing to continue on with business as usual, despite Jacas being away from the team and Harold Landry III still dealing with injuries.
“No… that’s a good group," Vrabel said when asked about making a move at edge rusher. "I’m excited about adding Dre [Jones], the development of [Elijah] Ponder and [Bradyn] Swinson, added [Jesse] Luketa and some young guys. Again, we'll continue to try to look at every position and make it stronger, but that group has done a nice job."
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Latest update on Patriots rookie Gabe Jacas paints messy situation
Continue reading...
