There were many top storylines at the start of Patriots training camp, not all of which were the most exciting and positive. Besides the ongoing negotiations with Christian Gonzalez over a new contract extension, which he very much deserves, there was also the standoff between the team and rookie edge rusher Gabe Jacas, who didn't sign his contract until just last week.
The 22-year-old had been away from the facility since rookies were in Foxborough this spring, missing all of OTAs, minicamp, and the start of training camp. It became a concern the longer he was absent, especially as rumors circulated about an apparent injury.
Mike Vrabel addressed the situation with limited details, revealing that Jacas did have a procedure to clean up his knee, but he didn't provide much clarity on his health.
Fortunately, Jacas is now at practice and was finally given the chance to speak with reporters on Tuesday afternoon. It didn't take long for reporters to ask about his knee, and the rookie cleared up the biggest concerns as the preseason approaches.
Gabe Jacas provides the first real update on his knee injury since joining Patriots training camp
After explaining that he studied the playbook despite his absence and that he doesn't feel behind at all, Jacas addressed concerns about his knee plainly.
When asked if there are any lingering worries about his injury, he simply stated, "Nope. Not at all," and left it at that. Although there might still be some who wish for more details and wonder if there is more to the story, this is the first time anyone on the Patriots has given much of an answer about Jacas' knee, and this time it came straight from the source.
Based on what we've seen from him at practice so far, there were no signs that he was still dealing with a bothersome injury. In fact, he's shown the exact opposite with his hard-nosed style, even going viral for a rep where he knocked down his linebacker coach.
It couldn't be better news for a defense that has been missing an explosive pass rusher with Harold Landry on the PUP list, and unproven talent behind him is rising to the challenge so far, ready to take over.
Jacas now has an opportunity to show he can be exactly what the Patriots need and to showcase the hard-nosed style that intrigued the team in the first place and that explains why they felt comfortable drafting him in the second round.
He certainly has some catching up to do, but the good thing is that from what he's shown so far, it doesn't appear as though he's missed a beat. He's been impressive and sounds ready to go, even claiming he's feeling good and is "100%." So, now it's just time to see it regularly.
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