The first glimpse we get of new rosters every offseason is during OTAs, which the Patriots are about to wrap up this week. It was the first time analysts and fans got to see what the new look team, now led by head coach Mike Vrabel, would look like under new leadership, with a hyperfocus on Drake Maye and the offense.
A lot of stories have emerged from the practices over the last few weeks, but none might be bigger, except for the Stefon Diggs drama, than the injury news about linebacker Jahlani Tavai.
He abruptly left practice on Monday with the assistance of trainers, with many believing he suffered a severe leg injury. Fortunately, the latest update suggests that isn't the case, but Tavai will miss several weeks of practice to rehab a calf injury before hopefully returning for training camp.
While it's never a great scenario to see a player go down with an injury, especially one that will keep them sidelined for a prolonged period, it does create a prime opportunity for other players to take advantage of their teammates' absence and stand out with their performance. That's the case for LB
K'Lavon Chaisson, who was signed as a free agent earlier this year.
Jahlani Tavai's injury means K'Lavon Chaisson has a chance to secure a spot on the Patriots 2025 roster more firmly
Chaisson came to the Patriots with a lot of potential yet to be tapped into, signing a one-year prove-it deal after spending a season with the Raiders. He put together an impressive year out in Las Vegas, prompting the Patriots' interest, but he is far from a roster lock and will need to shine on the practice field this summer.
Because there is a long list of linebackers currently signed to the team, it wasn't going to be an easy feat, especially when someone like Tavai is predominantly playing with the starters. Now that he will be out for the next several weeks, it means Chaisson must take advantage of the opportunity in front of him and prove why he deserves a place on the 2025 team.
There is a lot of competition at the position, with many players who have connections to the new coaching staff (like Jack Gibbens, Harold Landry III and Robert Spillane) on top of last year's standout Christian Elliss, who received a contract extension earlier this year, all vying for the limited spots available.
Those are factors that will certainly work against Chaisson, but if he can build upon what he showed with the Raiders, there's no reason to believe he can't secure a place on the 2025 team. It's his time to sink or swim, especially with Tavai sidelined. Hopefully, he can utilize the opportunity to the best of his abilities to make the rest of his offseason much smoother.