The Patriots have built Gabe Jacas into their 2026 plans, but they also slipped a notable safeguard into his rookie contract.
According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Jacas’ deal includes an injury waiver tied to his left knee, and that waiver runs through 2028. Reiss noted that rookie contracts usually do not include injury waivers, which makes this a clear sign that New England wanted extra protection built in.
Jacas, the No. 55 pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL draft, has not had a normal start to his Patriots tenure. He missed all offseason workouts because of the knee issue, had a clean-up procedure, and the timing of the injury remains unclear. The Patriots brought him in for a predraft visit on April 20, but the knee problem did not surface until later.
That uncertainty is part of why some people inside the building were uneasy after the surgery. The setback has lingered into training camp, where Jacas opened on the non-football injury list, a clear sign he is not yet ready for football work.
Still, head coach Mike Vrabel struck a calm tone on Monday.
"We're going to evaluate him, we're going to see where he's at. This is all part of the process.
We would do this with any player who had extended time away or surgery in the offseason. I'm cautiously optimistic that he'll work his way through the return to play and we'll get him back out there," Vrabel said.
The Patriots clearly believe Jacas can help them in 2026. He may not be the fastest edge presence, but he brings strong hands and a relentless motor that teams value.
His college production backs that up. Jacas finished with 183 total tackles, 35.5 TFLs and 27 sacks, with that sack total ranking second in Illinois history. He also posted eight-plus sacks in back-to-back seasons.
For now, the knee remains the storyline. New England added the waiver because it wanted protection if the issue turns into something bigger, and the clause gives the team that security for the next three years. The hope is that it never becomes a major factor and Jacas gets on the field soon.
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