Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Notches first sack of 2024
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Tavai posted nine tackles (seven solo), including 1.0 sacks, and a pass breakup in Sunday's 19-3 win over the Bears.
The Patriots sacked Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams a whopping nine times, and Tavai got in on the action with his first sack of the season. The 2019 second-round pick has averaged 6.8 tackles per game this season, and he'll certainly continue to have viability as he approaches a second straight 100-tackle campaign.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Nursing back injury
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Tavai (back) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.
Tavai may have picked up a back injury during the Patriots' Week 8 win over the Jets, during which he logged six tackles (four solo). He'll have two more chances to increase his practice participation ahead of Sunday's game against the Titans. Through the first eight games of the regular season, Tavai has logged 48 tackles (24 soloo) and one pass breakup.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Solid versus Texans
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Tavai produced eight tackles (three solo) in the 41-21 loss to the Texans in Week 6.
Tavai was one of two New England defenders to tally eight tackles. He was on the field for 52 defensive snaps (84 percent) and 14 on special teams (47 percent). The linebacker will look to build on his solid performance in Week 7 at Jacksonville.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Tallies nine tackles vs. Gang Green
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Tavai finished Thursday's 24-3 loss to the Jets with nine tackles (five solo).
Tavai was the second-leading tackler for New England on Thursday behind Raekwon McMillan (10). Tavai joined strong safety Kyle Dugger as the only two Patriots players to play every single defensive snap in the loss. Tavai has seen a heavy workload on defense over the last two weeks, and through the first three games of the regular season he has accrued 18 tackles (11 solo) and one pass defended.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Logs 110 tackles during 2023 season
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Tavai recorded 110 tackles, two interceptions and a sack in 17 games with the Patriots during the 2023 regular season.
Per Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site, Tavai finished the campaign as Pro Football Focus' fourth-ranked linebacker with an 86.5 grade, while taking a step forward as a hybrid ILB/OLB for the team. It's a role that the 2019 second-rounder is slated to reprise, with Tavai signed with New England through the 2024 season.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Limited practice Thursday
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Tavai (teeth) was a limited participant at the Patriots' practice Thursday.
Tavai appears to be dealing with a mouth injury to open the week, logging limited sessions both Wednesday and Thursday. It's unclear if he's in danger of missing Sunday's contest against the Jets, but if he's forced to sit, Mack Wilson could draw a start at inside linebacker.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Records 10 tackles
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Tavai finished with 10 tackles (four solo), including a tackle for a loss, in the Patriots' 27-21 defeat to the Bills on Sunday.
The fifth-year linebacker, who signed a two-year extension with New England in 2022, continued his career-best season with another strong performance. Tavai has set career highs in tackles (104), solo tackles (59), passes defensed (five) and interceptions (two).
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Chance to play Week 16
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Tavai (ankle) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday night's game against the Broncos.
The 27-year-old seems to have suffered an ankle injury at some point within the last week, and after a limited week of practice, he's got a chance to play in Week 16. Tavai's availability will be something to look out for Sunday, as Ja'Whaun Bentley (knee) is also listed as questionable, meaning New England could be without both of their top inside linebackers. If Tavai is unable to suit up in Week 16, Mack Wilson would likely see increased snaps for the Patriots' defense.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Monster performance versus Steelers
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Tavai recorded 15 tackles (eight solo) in Thursday's 21-18 win over the Steelers.
Tavai was all over the field in Week 14, securing a season-high 15 takedowns in the road victory. The linebacker has now compiled 23 tackles over the last two games, and he'll look to keep it going against the Chiefs in Week 15.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Season-high snap count in loss
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Tavai had seven tackles (three solo) in Sunday's 31-17 loss to the Dolphins.
Tavai played a season-high 68 defensive snaps Sunday while also playing on 96 percent of special-teams snaps. He saw more action on defense with Ja'Whaun Bentley (hamstring) exiting the game in the second half. Tavai and Mack Wilson -- who also had seven tackles in the game -- will see more defensive snaps in Week 9 against the Commanders if Bentley is unable to play.
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Jahlani Tavai: Time up in Detroit
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The Lions waived Tavai on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Detroit attempted to trade Tavai before cutting him but could not finalize a deal. A 2019 second-round pick, Tavai has struggled in pass coverage across two seasons in Detroit, and an underwhelming preseason appears to have represented his final chance to stick with the team. Tavai could get another opportunity in the league, but his chances of attaining IDP fantasy relevance are looking increasingly slim.
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Lions' Jahlani Tavai: Set for sophomore season
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Tavai (shoulder) could push Jarrad Davis for reps at middle linebacker in training camp, Tim Twentyman of the Lions official site reports.
Tavai had a solid rookie campaign with 58 total tackles, two sacks, one interception and one forced fumble, though he missed the season finale after picking up a shoulder injury. The Lions declined Davis' fifth-year option for 2021 this spring, so Tavai could make a push for the starting job with a strong showing in camp.
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Lions' Jahlani Tavai: Done for day
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Tavai (shoulder) won't return to Sunday's game against the Broncos.
The rookie second-rounder finishes the contest with three solo tackles. It's unsettled whether this injury could keep him out of the season finale against the Packers, but we'll have a better grasp on his status when practices start Wednesday.
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Lions' Jahlani Tavai: New career high in tackles
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Tavai put up 10 tackles and one pass breakup during Sunday's 31-24 loss to the Raiders.
Tavai (48 defensive snaps) saw a lot of action as the fourth linebacker behind Jarrad Davis (65), Devon Kennard (63) and Christian Jones (54). Especially after trading strong safety Quandre Diggs, the Lions should have plenty of snaps to give Tavai down the stretch, and his role could expand if injuries strike any of the players above him on the depth chart.
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Lions' Jahlani Tavai: Taking first-team reps
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Tavai took reps with the first-team defense during the first day of training camp Thursday, Chris Burke of The Athletic reports.
Tavai worked alongside Jarrad Davis and Devon Kennard, presumably operating as an outside linebacker after seeing reps at middle linebacker in spring workouts. As long as Davis stays healthy, it's highly unlikely Tavai will ever shift over to MLB. However, it's worth keeping in mind that Detroit's offseason experimentation with him at that spot might mean Tavai will slide over to the inside if Davis is ever bitten by the injury bug.
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Jahlani Tavai: Heading from Hawaii to Detroit
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The Lions selected Tavai in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, 43rd overall.
The Hawaii product is a tackling machine who notched two seasons with at least 120 tackles and he would have reached that mark again in 2018 if not for an injury. Tavai's shoulder injury kept him from posting official workout numbers but it's clear the Lions are confident that it won't be an issue long term. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Tavai will be playing linebacker in a 4-3 scheme in Detroit, but it's unclear if he'll supplant Jarrad Davis in the middle or kick to an outside spot.
