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New England Patriots DST

Player Outlook
The Patriots DST certainly benefited from a favorable schedule last season. Can they stay strong against a tougher, first-place slate in 2026? You'll have to answer that before taking them on Draft Day. The NFC North, AFC West, Jaguars and Seahawks (in Seattle to start the year) are all on their calendar, as are two games against the Bills. That's 12 of their 17 games against pretty good offenses ... and the Raiders. Their other games, particularly four against the Jets and Dolphins, are very appealing. But this is a Patriots defense that made minimal additions to its pass rush and secondary this offseason, suggesting that regression for a team that had 35 sacks and 10 interceptions while allowing 18.1 points per game is entirely possible. It's particularly easy to pass on the Patriots DST with Seattle, Jacksonville and Buffalo on their schedule within the first four weeks of the season.

Fantasy News

  • Patriots' Gabe Jacas: Activated off NFI list

    Rotowire
    The Patriots activated Jacas (knee) off the active/non-football injury list Saturday, per the NFL's transaction log. Jacas is officially recovered from a knee injury after passing his physical. The rookie second-round pick is expected to contribute as a rotational linebacker during the upcoming campaign.
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  • Patriots' Gabe Jacas: Limited in practice Saturday

    Rotowire
    Jacas (knee) was a limited participant in Saturday's practice, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. Jacas was seen working with coach Mike Vrabel 1-on-1 on punt-protection techniques. The rookie second-rounder out of Illinois still resides on the active/non-football injury list due to a knee issue he underwent surgery after being drafted to fix. Limited work in training camp means there is a good chance Jacas is ready for the regular season and can contribute to the Patriots' defense as a rotational outside linebacker.
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  • Jahlani Tavai: Works out with Texans

    Rotowire
    Houston worked out Tavai (undisclosed) on Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. New England cut Tavai with a failed physical designation back in March, but he appears to be back in shape after the start of training camp. The Texans may be looking for more depth at linebacker after Jake Hansen was carted off the practice field with a lower body injury Thursday.
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  • Patriots' Carlton Davis: Absent from Thursday practice

    Rotowire
    Davis (undisclosed) was not present at Thursday's practice, Mike Kadlick of CLNSMedia.com reports. Davis' absence allowed Charles Woods to receive starting reps across from Christian Gonzalez. Kobee Minor and Karon Prunty may also get a chance at meaningful reps if Davis has a more serious issue.
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  • Patriots' Christian Gonzalez: Full participant Thursday

    Rotowire
    Gonzalez was a full participant in Thursday's practice session, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports. Thursday was the first day of padded practice, and Gonzalez participated without restrictions. The cornerback had been staging a hold-in while seeking a contract extension, but he appears to be changing his strategy and is displaying a willingness to work with the organization as they discuss a potential deal.
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  • Raiders' Patrick Johnson: Signs with Las Vegas

    Rotowire
    Johnson signed with the Raiders on Monday. The seventh-round pick of the Eagles in 2021 has spent most of his career with his original team, including a nine-game regular-season stint in 2025 in which he recorded eight tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks. Johnson has played on more than 170 special-teams snaps in each of his five NFL seasons, and he can make his case for a roster spot as a special teamer and as a linebacker.
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  • Patriots' Gabe Jacas: Lands on NFI list

    Rotowire
    The Patriots placed Jacas (knee) on the active/non-football injury list Sunday, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports. Jacas is still recovering from a procedure he underwent earlier in the year but is hopeful to be back at some point during training camp. The rookie second-round pick should contribute as a rotational linebacker once healthy.
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  • Patriots' Isaiah Iton: Back with Patriots

    Rotowire
    Iton agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Patriots on Monday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. Iton impressed with the Patriots during the 2025 preseason but then spent the entire regular season on IR due to a significant hip injury. Now back to full health, Iton will enter training camp with another chance to compete for a depth role with the team.
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  • Patriots' Gabe Jacas: Hopeful for training camp

    Rotowire
    The Patriots are hopeful that Jacas (knee) will be ready for the start of training camp, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. Jacas remained away from the team and unsigned throughout mandatory minicamp. Head coach Mike Vrabel declined to disclose the nature of Jacas' current injury, but he noted that the rookie second-rounder is recovering from surgery. A hamstring injury held Jacas out of the 2026 NFL Combine in February and Illinois' Pro Day in March, but he worked out at his personal pro day in April. A source tells Reiss that Jacas is currently recovering from a knee procedure and that the Patriots are likely seeking injury-related financial protection within the terms of his contract.
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  • Patriots' Christian Gonzalez: Reports for minicamp

    Rotowire
    Gonzalez reported to New England's mandatory minicamp Tuesday, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports. Gonzalez is back with the team after skipping most of the voluntary offseason program while holding out for a contract extension. The Patriots picked up the 23-year-old's fifth-year option in April, but Gonzalez continues to negotiate a long-term extension with the team.
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  • Patriots' Gabe Jacas: Recovering from procedure

    Rotowire
    Coach Mike Vrabel said Tuesday that Jacas (undisclosed) is recovering from surgery, Mark Daniels of MassLive.com reports. No details were given regarding the injury, but Vrabel did note that Jacas is not yet under contract when asked about his absence from the Patriots' mandatory minicamp. The rookie second-rounder will likely have some catching up to do once he is able to join the team on the practice field.
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  • Patriots' Joshua Farmer: Participating in OTAs

    Rotowire
    Farmer (hamstring) is participating in OTAs. The 2025 fourth-round pick suffered the hamstring injury late in the regular season and missed New England's Super Bowl run, finishing the year with 15 tackles (seven solo), a pass breakup and a fumble recovery. Now that he's back, he'll likely compete for a rotational spot behind starting defensive ends Milton Williams and Christian Barmore.
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  • Patriots' Eric Gregory: Good to go for OTAs

    Rotowire
    Gregory (knee) is participating in OTAs. The defensive tackle was placed on injured reserve in January after New England's AFC divisional-round win over Houston. Gregory recorded eight tackles across seven games for the Patriots last year.
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  • Patriots' Marcellas Dial: Present during OTAs

    Rotowire
    Dial (knee) is participating during the Patriots' OTAs, Sophie Weller of USA Today reports. Dial spent the whole 2025 season on IR after tearing his ACL during training camp, but he's now back on the practice field with his teammates. In his rookie year in 2024, he played 60 snaps on defense and 363 snaps on special teams.
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  • Patriots' Quintayvious Hutchins: Injured at rookie minicamp

    Rotowire
    Hutchins (undisclosed) suffered an injury during Saturday's practice session at rookie minicamp, Mike Kadlick of CLNSMedia.com reports. Hutchins, a 2026 seventh-round pick, is competing to carve out a reserve role in New England's edge rushing corps. He will have plenty of time to heal up in advance of June minicamp activities, though the details and severity of his injury remain undisclosed. A five-year contributor at Boston College, Hutchins wrapped up his senior year in 2025 with 35 total tackles, including 2.0 sacks, across 10 appearances.
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  • Patriots' Christian Gonzalez: Contract option picked up

    Rotowire
    The Patriots have exercised Gonzalez's fifth-year contract option, Mark Daniels of masslive.com reports. As a result of the expected move, Gonzalez -- who was a Pro Bowler last season -- is in line to earn $18.1 million in 2027. Beyond that, it's still plausible that the 2023 third-rounder lands a lucrative extension from the Patriots down the road. Gonzalez is coming of a 2025 regular season in which he recorded a career-high 69 tackles and 10 defensed passes in 14 games while working as a starting cornerback opposite Carlton Davis.
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  • Saints' Anfernee Jennings: Heading to Big Easy

    Rotowire
    Jennings is expected to sign with the Saints on Sunday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports. Jennings spent the last five seasons with the Patriots, accumulating 132 tackles and 7.5 sacks. The 2020 third-round pick was let go by New England on March 11. Jennings is heading into his age-29 season, and he should provide veteran depth behind Carl Granderson and Chase Young.
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  • Patriots' Quintayvious Hutchins: Heads to New England

    Rotowire
    The Patriots selected Hutchins in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 247th overall. Hutchins spent his entire five-year college career in Boston College and was a regular starter on defense in 2024 and 2025. He ended his senior year with 35 total tackles, including 2.0 sacks, across 10 games. Hutchins was mostly used as an edge rusher, and while he was more of a role player during his time at Boston College, he has plenty of experience on special teams that could earn him some playing time in his rookie season in the NFL. Hutchins will spend the offseason and training camp competing against the likes of Elijah Ponder, rookie second-rounder Gabe Jacas and Bradyn Swinson for a rotational spot at edge rusher behind Dre'Mont Jones and Harold Landry.
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  • Patriots' Gabe Jacas: Drafted by New England

    Rotowire
    The Patriots selected Jacas in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 55th overall. New England traded up (with the Chargers) to select Jacas, and it's no surprise to see the team prioritize the pass rush after having lost K'Lavon Chaisson in free agency. Jacas was a four-year starter at Illinois, where he led the team in terms of both sacks and tackles for a loss in both 2024 and 2025. Veterans Harold Landry and Dre'Mont Jones are essentially locked into starting gigs, which positions Jacas to handle a rotational role as a rookie.
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  • Cardinals' Jack Gibbens: Joining Cardinals

    Rotowire
    Gibbens signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals on Monday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports. Arizona was in need of depth at off-ball linebacker after releasing Akeem Davis-Gaither, and Gibbens has been tabbed as his replacement. While Gibbens started eight of his 17 regular-season appearances for the Patriots last year, he may not be assured a regular role off the bat with Mack Wilson (ribs) and 2025 fourth-round pick Cody Simon also on the Cardinals roster. Gibbens tallied 81 tackles, including 1.0 sack, four pass defenses and one forced fumble in 2025.
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