The Patriots will open training camp without one of their key special teams pieces after placing Brenden Schooler on the active/non-football injury list, head coach Mike Vrabel said Friday.
Schooler, a safety and special teamer, is now joined on the NFI list by running back Terrell Jennings, making those two the only players currently there. New England also moved outside linebacker Harold Landry III and tight end C.J. Dippre to the active/physically unable to perform list earlier this week.
Vrabel said Schooler could be out for a bit, but added that players on PUP or NFI can still take part in meetings while working through rehab before returning to the practice field.
“[Schooler] may be away for a little bit - or out for a little bit,” Vrabel said Friday morning. “Those players on PUP or NFI can be involved in the meetings and then do their rehab and return to play with the trainers. Then when they’re ready to get on the practice field and practice with the team, they will.”
Schooler enters camp as a first-time captain in 2025 after another strong season on special teams. He played 77 percent of the Patriots’ kicking-game snaps in 2025, earned his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 2024, and then set a career high with 16 special teams tackles last season.
The rest of the roster was on hand Friday for conditioning tests ahead of the team’s first practice of the summer on Saturday, with the exception of unsigned rookie Gabe Jacas.
“Run test went well, nothing really to report there which is probably the best thing to say - is that there were no issues,” Vrabel said. “Looking forward to getting started tomorrow.”
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