Aaron Rodgers had a few choice words for Gabe Jacas after Patriots' big win

After an offseason spent bringing in plenty of new players through free agency and the draft, the Patriots faced questions about whether they improved their pass rush enough, which was among their weakest groups during the 2025 season.

They decided they were fine with letting K'Lavon Chaisson sign with the Commanders rather than re-signing him, even though he recorded the second-most sacks last season and they brought in Dre'Mont Jones to replace him.

On top of that, they used their second-round pick on outside linebacker Gabe Jacas, which didn't seem like a bad decision at the time. But he missed all spring practices because of an injury and contract negotiations, which put him behind when he finally returned to Foxborough two days into training camp.

He seemed to dispel concerns with his preseason performance, and over the last two weeks, the rookie has shown he is already making significant progress and could become their go-to pass rusher in due time.

He made a strong impression in Week 1, but built on it against the Steelers when he recorded his first sack on Aaron Rodgers, prompting the future Hall of Famer to seek Jacas out at the end of the game to share his thoughts on his performance.

Aaron Rodgers gave a lot of praise to Gabe Jacas after the rookie's standout performance

After the Patriots locked up their first win of the season, players from both teams did the typical sportsmanship thing, shaking hands and offering kudos for their performances, regardless of whether their team won or not.

Rodgers made an effort to speak to Jacas specifically, immediately letting him know that he did a great job, quite emphatically too, which was a cool moment for all to see.

For a first-year player, getting an interception early in your career will be memorable no matter what. But when you steal a pass from a quarterback like Rodgers, it's fair to say that Jacas will remember that turnover for the rest of his career.

Beyond being memorable for who was involved, it was also the first interception Jacas had ever made in his football career. He had never intercepted a pass before this week's game, making his performance even more impressive.

With Landry's return still unknown and Dre'Mont Jones potentially sidelined by a shoulder injury that forced him out of Sunday's game, the defense will need Jacas to stay on this trajectory as they face back-to-back road games against high-powered offenses in the Jaguars and Bills.

Both Trevor Lawrence and Josh Allen can beat you with their legs, but get off-kilter when they're disrupted, which is where Jacas can shine.

If he can bring the pressure and get to the quarterback, the Patriots will have a better shot at leaving Jacksonville and Buffalo with a win. It's a big opportunity that the rookie wasn't expected to have this early in his career, but he's proving he can be what the team needs and will solidify that with even better performances over the next two weeks.

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