Rookie Gabe Jacas Makes His Move
The New England Patriots dialed back the intensity on Wednesday. After five days in full pads, the squad swapped into bucket hats and T-shirts for a walkthrough session. That change in pace didn’t stop rookie linebacker Gabe Jacas from making noise. The second-round pick has seen his workload grow steadily since his debut on Saturday. He hit his highest participation level yet on Tuesday after finally signing his rookie deal on July 26.
Jacas ran with the second-team defense and stepped up during a crucial two-minute drill. He helped hold Tommy DeVito’s offense to just a field goal with 1:05 left on the clock. His journey to this point was rocky. The Illinois product dealt with a hamstring injury before the draft and had a knee cleanup procedure in June, per reports. Despite those setbacks, Jacas sounds ready to go.
“First and foremost, I just want to say how grateful I am to be here,” Jacas said after practice. He knows he has work to do to catch up with veterans. Although the trip was long, I am simply happy to be present, join this organization, attend practice, and run around. Head coach Mike Vrabel has taken a personal interest in the rookie. “You can tell Vrabel’s a very hands-on coach,” Jacas noted. The coach is teaching him specific techniques to be a better punt protector.
That’s the difference between a guy who shows up and one who actually learns.
Chism and Jennings Earn Starting Looks
While the defense worked on special teams, the offense shuffled its pieces. With Romeo Doubs missing the session, sophomore wide receiver Efton Chism III got a chance to shine. He lined up with the starting group during the first period of 11-on-11s. Chism often played alongside A.J. Brown and DeMario Douglas in Doubs’ spot. His capacity to align everywhere within the formation renders him a valuable asset.
Following his return earlier this week from the non-football injury list, running back Terrell Jennings also received substantial reps. On Wednesday, he practiced with the starting offense together with Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. This spot is not given to just any backup running back. Jennings also participated with the primary kickoff return unit and the leading punt block squad. He is carving out a clear path for the third running back job.
Can a backup survive without being a Swiss Army knife? Not in this league.
Kyle Williams did not start with Drake Maye in the main group, but he still made an impact. He joined the top unit later and lined up as the first-unit kickoff returner next to Jennings. Versatility is the key to staying on the field. The more a player can do, the harder it is for the coaching staff to cut him.
Young Cornerbacks Push for Time
The secondary saw some interesting changes during the 11-on-11 work. Rookie pair Channing Canada and Karon Prunty worked with the defensive starters. They were five of the cornerbacks on the field alongside Christian Gonzalez, Charles Woods, and Marcus Jones. Both youngsters took the field behind Woods, who is the current CB4 while Carlton Davis sits out. Canada and Prunty might be elevating themselves above the other backups.
The safety battle also heated up with Dell Pettus and Mike Brown on different fields. Pettus worked with the first-team defense while Brown stayed with the second unit. This split tells you where the coaches stand right now. The team needs to fill the third safety spot soon. The walkthrough format allowed these young players to get reps without the physical toll of full pads.
Vrabel knows the defense needs to be aggressive. “But when you’re just getting off the ball and violent, stuff like that happens,” he said. That is what happens when you’re coached by Mike Smith, who is a very good coach. The Patriots are looking for players who can bring that energy every day. If Canada, Prunty, and Pettus keep this up, they could lock down their spots before the season starts.
