The New England Patriots concluded their mandatory minicamp on Thursday, and a key rookie did not participate amid having an unsigned contract.
Per Mike Reiss of ESPN, second-round pick Gabe Jacas did not participate during mandatory minicamp. He was spotted watching practice on the sideline during rookie minicamp on May 7 and May 9, when reporters were allowed to watch practice.
The linebacker has not been with the team since May. New England traded up to the No. 55 pick to nab the pass-rusher.
“Jacas hasn’t been with the Patriots since May, according to a source,” Reiss wrote. “His absence is tied, in part, to not being given a standard “participation agreement” from the Patriots, according to a source.
“Most draft picks receive such an agreement, which states that if they were to sustain an injury prior to signing their first NFL contract, the team would still be obligated to sign him to a contract based on the slot he was drafted.”
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Jacas became was a dominant defensive end for Illinois last season, recording 43 tackles, there forced fumbles and 11 sacks. He suffered a hamstring injury before the draft and was unable to participate in the scouting combine. He did work out for his “personal” pro day on April 2.
A source told Reiss that he underwent a knee procedure, but it’s unclear when the procedure happened. An NFL executive told Reiss that New England might be trying to work out a contract that gives the team financial protection based on the procedure, which could be why Jacas is unsigned with a month to go before training camp begins.
Jacas’ absence isn’t ideal for the rookie or the Patriots. He needed to earn reps this spring to acclimate to the NFL defense before the pads come on in training camp.
Patriots outside linebackers coach Mike Smith believes Jacas will be behind when training camp starts, but the coaching staff will try to get him ready to go for the regular season when a deal is worked out.
“As long as he’s a Patriot, he’ll always have a plan for (this) year. Will he be a little bit behind? Yeah. Who wouldn’t?” Smith said. “As a coach, I coach things different; I’ve got a different mama (approach) than every other OLB or edge coach in the NFL. That’s my job — to try to get him ready to go when his opportunity (comes).”
Jacas wasn’t expected to start in Week 1. Dre’Mont Jones and Harold Landry III should earn the starting job when the Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch of the Super Bowl on Sept. 9 in Seattle.
However, the Patriots need Jacas to be effective in their rotation on defense, and it could take the second-round pick extra time in the regular season to develop into his role after missing most of the offseason program.
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