Patriots fans got the Harold Landry III update they definitely needed on Friday.
Landry opened New England’s Week 7 prep for the Tennessee Titans with back-to-back missed practices, but he returned Friday with a full session. He’s officially listed as questionable with an ankle injury, but all signs point to the Patriots’ top edge rusher being available on Sunday.
There are a few irreplaceable players on New England’s current roster — like quarterback Drake Maye, left tackle Will Campbell and cornerback Christian Gonzalez — and Landry is near the top of that list. He’s been a mainstay on the field in Vrabel’s defense, already logging 300 snaps (fourth-most on the team, per Pro Football Focus); he leads the Patriots in both QB pressures (25) and sacks (4.5) through six games.
K'Lavon Chaisson has been solid opposite Landry this season, but New England is woefully thin on the edge with the NFL trade deadline now less than three weeks away.
The Patriots could soon seek some outside help, but for Sunday’s game in Tennessee, they could be forced to rely on some struggling players to pick up the slack if Landry is limited.
The Patriots could need edge rushers Keion White, Anfernee Jennings to step up against the Titans in Week 7
It’s important for the Patriots to keep their starting edge rushers healthy, because an injury to Landry or Chaisson would create a disastrous situation.
It’s been rough sledding for third-year pro Keion White, who’s tallied just three total pressures and no sacks in 63 pass-rush snaps, per PFF. That’s a troubling sign for a second-round pick who shared the team lead in sacks with five last year.
White could find himself in trade rumors over the next couple of weeks, along with veteran Anfernee Jennings, who’s rotated in sparingly on defense this season. The team could also look to give rookie Elijah Ponder some added reps; he flashed a bit in the Buffalo game and recorded a pressure on Josh Allen.
The Patriots have been excellent on defense over their current three-game win streak, surrendering just 17 points per game. A key component has been a defensive front that ranks top-five against the rush and has been effective at getting to the quarterback.
The majority of New England’s defensive pressure is coming from Landry, Chaisson and interior defenders Milton Williams, Christian Barmore and Khyiris Tonga. The depth chart thins considerably behind those players, though, and Landry’s injury scare this week is a reminder of the fragile line this team is walking in 2025.