Throughout the offseason, the Patriots had a few players dealing with injuries that kept them away from training camp and practices leading up to the regular season.
The most concerning were Harold Landry III, the leading pass rusher in 2025 and expected to keep that role this year, and Brenden Schooler, a special teams ace, neither of whom the Patriots provided many details on regarding their injuries or how much time they might miss.
More mystery surrounded Schooler, with the Patriots not even revealing a minor detail about what injury he was working through and how serious it might be. That prompted a lot of concern from fans, since he has become an integral part of the third unit over the last few years, and his absence would presumably be felt immediately.
Fortunately, the Week 1 rematch with the Seahawks went as smoothly as it could with the third unit, which is a major plus. Now we're learning exactly what Schooler is dealing with and when he might return, which is also something to be positive about.
Brenden Schooler could return sooner rather than later for the Patriots
In his weekly article with behind-the-scenes information on the Patriots, ESPN's Mike Reiss revealed that Schooler is reportedly dealing with a back ailment, and that is why he was placed on the Non-Football Injury list during roster cuts.
He also shared that the Patriots considered keeping him on the 53-man roster but opted to keep him on the NFI list instead, and there's a chance he could return this season despite the injury.
That's a big update, considering the team has been mum about anything involving Schooler since they first said he was dealing with an injury. And although a back problem sounds serious, knowing that he could return at some point, hopefully soon, provides a sigh of relief ahead of a brutal schedule.
Although some argue that missing a special teamer doesn't have as big an impact as other positions, Schooler has become a major part of the Patriots' efforts over the last few years, culminating in his being named captain for the first time in 2025.
There's a reason for that, and why he very easily could've earned that again this year had he not been injured when players made the vote. That shows just how confident his teammates feel with him on the field and why the third unit is so emphasized in New England, a lingering part of the Bill Belichick era that still feels present with the current team.
Fortunately, Schooler should return and get the group back to its absolute best, hopefully sooner rather than later. We don't have a definitive date yet, but any legitimate update is better than none.
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