New England Patriots sign linebacker Gabe Jacas with injury waiver

The New England Patriots signed second‑round draft pick Gabe Jacas to his rookie contract on July 26. The deal includes an unusual injury waiver covering a large osteochondral defect and medial meniscus tear in his left knee, allowing the team to void remaining guarantees if the injury recurs. Jacas, who missed the NFL Combine and rookie minicamp due to a prior hamstring issue, underwent a knee cleanup procedure in the spring and was placed on the active/non‑football injury list before training camp.

Head coach Mike Vrabel said Jacas is "continuing to progress well" and is getting closer to returning to practice. The 22‑year‑old linebacker, who posted 11 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss in his final college season at Illinois, is expected to bolster the Patriots' pass‑rush, an area the team aims to improve after a low‑sack season.