Tavai suffered a calf injury during Monday's OTAs practice and is expected to be sidelined until training camp, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Tavai had to be helped off the field Monday, so this actually sounds like promising news for the Patriots' leading tackler from last season. New England did sign three-down linebacker Robert Spillane to a three-year, $33 million deal during free agency.
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Status
QUESTIONABLE - Calf - Not Specified Expected Return: 2025-08-01Latest Jahlani Tavai news
Team
New England Patriots
Birthdate
9/28/1996 (28)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'2", 255 lbs
Draft Info
2019: Rd 2; Pk (DET)
Birthplace
Inglewood, CA, USA
Position
LB
College
Hawai'i
Experience
6 seasons
Career History
New England Patriots
2021-Present
(4 seasons)
Detroit Lions
2019-2021
(3 seasons)
Tavai suffered a calf injury during Monday's OTAs practice and is expected to be sidelined until training camp, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Tavai had to be helped off the field Monday, so this actually sounds like promising news for the Patriots' leading tackler from last season. New England did sign three-down linebacker Robert Spillane to a three-year, $33 million deal during free agency.
Tavai left the field with an undisclosed injury at Patriots' OTAs on Monday, Mike Kadlick of CLNSMedia.com reports. As a result, practice was stopped for a few minutes, and Tavai had to be helped off the field by teammates. Tavai appeared in all 17 regular-season contests last season, making 16 starts, and finished with a career-high 115 tackles (58 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and five pass breakups. New England signed veteran every-down linebacker Robert Spillane in the offseason, and it's unclear how the new coaching staff views Tavai's role after he played 82 percent of the defensive snaps in 2024.
Tavai finished the 2024 regular season with 115 tackles (58 solo), a sack and an interception in 17 games. In his fourth season with the Patriots, Tavai set a career high mark in tackles, while leading the team in that category. The 28-year-old is under contract with New England through 2027, and is thus set to remain a key part of the defense in 2025, while maintaining his role as a starting linebacker for new head coach Mike Vrabel.
Tavai finished Saturday's 40-7 loss to the Chargers with 10 tackles (five solo). It was a rough game defensively for the Patriots on Saturday, who allowed the Chargers to score on eight of 10 offensive drives while maintaining possession of the ball for over 40 minutes. The Patriots logged 85 combined tackles compared to the Chargers' 49, and Tavai led New England with 10 tackles of his own, which is the third time he's reached that total this season. His effort in Week 17 puts him at 111 combined tackles through 16 regular-season games, which surpassed his career high from 2023 (110 through 17 regular-season games). Tavai will look to finish the 2024 campaign on a high note against the Bills on Sunday.
Tavai recorded seven tackles (five solo) Sunday during New England's loss to the Cardinals. Tavai finished tied for second on the team in tackles behind Kyle Dugger's 10 during Sunday's loss. Across 14 games played this season, Tavai has racked up 95 tackles (50 solo), with 1.0 sacks, and an interception and is now just 15 tackles of matching his career-high total set back during last season.
Tavai recorded five tackles (one solo) and a pass defensed during Sunday's 25-24 loss versus the Colts. Teammate Christian Elliss was credited with the interception, but it was Tavai who started the tip drill on an Anthony Richardson pass over the middle that led to a turnover in the first quarter in Week 13. Tavai is on pace for a career year going into the Patriots' bye in Week 14.
Tavai recorded eight total tackles (three solo), including one tackle for loss, and defended one pass in Sunday's 34-15 loss to the Dolphins. The 28-year-old tied Marcus Jones as the Patriots' leading-tackler Sunday and has now accumulated a team-leading 83 total tackles through 12 games. Tavai is on pace for the best statistical season of his career in 2024, as he is likely to surpass his previous highs of 110 total tackles and five passes defended before the season concludes. Expect Tavai to remain one of the Patriots' top inside linebackers as the season progresses.
Tavai recorded seven total tackles (four solo) in Sunday's 28-22 loss to the Rams. Tavai was the Patriots' second-leading tackler in Sunday's loss, trailing just Marcus Jones' nine-stop effort. The veteran inside linebacker leads New England's defense in total tackles (75) and is second in tackles for loss (six) through the team's first 10 games. He's expected to continue being a tackling machine ahead of the Patriots' Week 12 divisional matchup against the Dolphins.
Tavai posted nine tackles (seven solo), a sack and a pass breakup in Sunday's 19-3 win over the Bears. The Patriots sacked Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams a whopping nine times, and Tavai got in on the action with his first sack of the season. The 2019 second-round pick has averaged 6.8 tackles per game this season, which hurts his consistency for fantasy purposes, but he'll certainly have viability as he approaches a second straight 100-tackle campaign.