Patriots' Robert Spillane: Solid first season in New England
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Spillane notched 97 tackles, including 1.0 sacks, five defensed passes (including two interceptions) and a forced fumble over 13 regular-season games (all starts) during the 2025 campaign.
Spillane signed with the Patriots last March after a two-year run with Las Vegas during which he averaged 153 stops per season. While Spillane couldn't quite reach those numbers in his debut campaign in New England, he made an immediate impact as the Pats' leading tackler despite missing the final four games of the regular season due to an ankle injury. Spillane returned for the playoffs and posted 18 stops during New England's run to the Super Bowl in spite of missing most of the AFC Championship Game versus Denver as a result of reinjuring his ankle. Spillane is under contract through 2027 and figures to be a central figure in New England's defense again next year.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Cleared for Super Bowl LX
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Spillane (ankle) is active for Super Bowl LX against the Seahawks on Sunday.
Spillane was able to log a limited practice in Friday's session, and that was enough for him to be cleared to play in the final game of the 2025 season. He has accumulated 14 tackles (five solo) and five pass defenses over the Patriots' three playoff games and will start alongside Christian Elliss at inside linebacker.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Questionable for Super Bowl LX
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Spillane (ankle) is listed as questionable ahead of Super Bowl LX on Sunday, Feb. 8.
Spillane has had six practice opportunities leading up to the big game against the Seahawks, failing to participate in all but Friday's session, where the linebacker logged limited participation. Head coach Mike Vrabel will have to decide if Spillane's ankle issue will hurt the team's ability to slow down Kenneth Walker and the Seahawks' run game. If Spillane is ultimately unable to suit up, Jack Gibbens will likely start at inside linebacker opposite Christian Elliss.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Doesn't practice Wednesday
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Spillane (ankle) didn't participate in New England's practice Wednesday.
Spillane hasn't practiced since the AFC Championship Game, as he's still nursing the ankle injury that forced him to exit the contest early. However, the 30-year-old said that he's confident he'll be good to go for the Super Bowl on Sunday, where he would resume his role as the team's defensive signal caller.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Questionable for the Super Bowl
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Spillane (ankle) is listed as questionable ahead of Super Bowl LX on Sunday, Feb. 8.
Spillane was a non-participant in all three practices this week due to an ankle injury. The linebacker logged just 13 defensive snaps in last Sunday's AFC Championship Game victory over the Broncos and was unable to return after a first-quarter exit. The 30-year-old will have another week to rest and recuperate, and his status for Super Bowl LX against the Seahawks will likely depend on his ability to log consecutive practices in the days leading up to the contest.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Doesn't practice Friday
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Head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters that Spillane (ankle) didn't practice Friday, Mike Kadlick of CLNSMedia.com reports.
Spillane has now logged consecutive DNPs after sustaining an ankle injury in the AFC Championship Game win over the Broncos. The 30-year-old linebacker led New England's defense in total tackles during the regular season, recording 97 stops over just 13 contests. If he's unable to suit up for the Super Bowl LX matchup against the Seahawks on Sunday, Feb. 8, expect Jack Gibbens to have an expanded role with the Patriots' first-team defense.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Misses Thursday's practice
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Spillane (ankle) was absent from Thursday's practice, Mike Kadlick of CLNSMedia.com reports.
The 30-year-old from Western Michigan sustained an ankle injury early in the AFC Championship Game win over the Broncos. Spillane is a crucial portion of the Patriots' linebacker corps, recording 97 total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, and five passes defensed, including two interceptions, over 13 regular-season games in 2025. He likely needs to upgrade to limited practice at some point over the next week in order to suit up for the Super Bowl LX matchup against the Seahawks on Sunday, Feb. 8.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Exits AFCCG with ankle injury
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Spillane (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Broncos.
Spillane tweaked his ankle during the first quarter, and he is being evaluated by medical staff to determine whether he can return to Sunday's game. Jack Gibbens will get more snaps on defense for as long as Spillane is out of action.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Exits versus Texans
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Spillane is questionable to return to Sunday's divisional-round game versus the Texans due to a thumb injury, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
Spillance recorded one tackle before leaving in the first quarter. The 30-year-old finished the regular season as New England's leading tackler (97) despite missing four games with an ankle injury. In his absence, Jack Gibbens should see increased playing time at inside linebacker versus Houston.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Ready to face Chargers
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Spillane (ankle) practiced in full Wednesday.
Spillane finally appears back to full health and ready to return to New England's starting lineup for the first time since Week 13. Barring any setbacks, expect Spillane to return to his usual starting role at inside linebacker during Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Chargers.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Limited Wednesday
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Spillane (ankle) was limited in Wednesday's practice.
Spillane hasn't played since Week 13 but told Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald he's ready to play in Sunday's wild-card game against the Chargers. Through 13 regular-season appearances, Spillane has recorded 97 tackles (48 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and five pass breakups, including two interceptions.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Won't play Sunday
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Spillane (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Jets, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
The 30-year-old didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday and is now in line to miss his second consecutive game due to a lingering ankle injury. Spillane is a crucial part of New England's defense, recording 97 total tackles, five passes defensed, including two interceptions, and one forced fumble over 13 appearances this season. While he's sidelined Sunday, expect Jack Gibbens to operate as one of the Patriots' top inside linebackers.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Ruled out against Ravens
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Spillane (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Ravens, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Spillane was active in the Week 15 loss to Buffalo but didn't see the field due to a foot injury. He's now dealing with an ankle issue that will keep the starting linebacker sidelined for New England's primetime matchup against the Ravens on Sunday. Jack Gibbens and Jahlani Tavai are candidates for more playing time in Spillane's absence.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: No practice Wednesday
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Spillane (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.
Spillane didn't play at all in New England's Week 15 loss due to a foot injury, despite officially being active, and now he's managing an ankle issue. The fact that he was unable to practice to start the week is concerning, but he'll still have two days to increase his participation ahead of Sunday's game against the Ravens.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Five stops in victory
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Spillane recorded five total tackles (three solo) in Sunday's 26-20 win over the Bengals.
Spillane wasn't as productive as he's grown accustomed to being in Week 12, finishing with fewer than nine tackles for just the third time in the last 10 games. The linebacker has been a stalwart on the Patriots' defense this season, registering 95 total tackles (46 solo), including 1.0 sacks, two interceptions and a pass defensed over 12 contests so far.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Leads team in tackles in win
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Spillane recorded nine total tackles (five solo) and a pass defensed in Thursday night's 27-14 win over the Jets.
Spillane was able to pace the team in stops, registering nine tackles for the second straight week. The linebacker's five solo takedowns also tied his third highest total in a game this season. On the year, Spillane has now compiled 90 total tackles (43 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding five passes defensed, one of which is an interception, and a forced fumble over 11 contests.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Nine takedowns in win
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Spillane recorded nine total tackles (one solo) and a pass defensed in Sunday's 28-23 win over the Buccaneers.
Spillane was once again a busy man in Week 10, registering at least nine stops for the sixth time this season. The linebacker is having a strong first campaign with the Patriots, producing 81 total tackles (38 solo), including 1.0 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble over 10 contests so far.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Double-digit stops in win
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Spillane recorded 11 total tackles (five solo) in Sunday's 25-19 win over the Saints.
Spillane was able to reach double-digit stops for the third time this season, all of which have come over the last four contests. The linebacker has now compiled 51 total tackles (30 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding two passes defensed, one of which was an interception, and a forced fumble over six games this year.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Hits double-digit stop mark again
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Spillane totaled 10 tackles (four solo) in Sunday's 42-13 Week 4 win over Carolina.
Spillane was again very productive, as he ranked second on New England in stops. The veteran linebacker recorded a modest three tackles in both Week 1 and Week 2 but has since exploded for 25 stops over the past two weeks. That has put Spillane at 31 tackles through four contests.
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Patriots' Robert Spillane: Massive impact in Week 3
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Spillane recorded 15 total tackles (10 solo), while also securing an interception in Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Steelers.
Spillane was a busy man in Week 3, picking off Aaron Rodgers in third quarter for his first interception of the year, while his 15 total takedowns led the team. The linebacker has now compiled 21 total tackles (16 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while adding two passes defensed, one of which was Sunday's interception, over three games this season.
