FOXBORO — Ninety players reported for Day 1 of Patriots mandatory minicamp. The one hold-out: [rookie edge defender](https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/05/02/nfl-notes-relentless-gabe-jacas-brings-power-leadership-to-patriots/) Gabe Jacas.
Jacas, a [second-round pick](https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/04/24/patriots-trade-up-again-to-select-edge-defender-gabe-jacas-55th-overall/), is the Patriots’ only rookie who has yet to sign his rookie contract. Head coach Mike Vrabel also revealed Tuesday that Jacas had a “procedure.” Jacas missed the NFL Scouting Combine and Illinois’ pro day due to a hamstring injury.
Vrabel, who said “everybody under contract is here and accounted for,” was asked if Jacas’ absence was related to his contract.
“I do not attribute it to anything other than he is not here and that he is not under contract at this current time,” Vrabel said. “So, I do not want to say that there is a reason for it other than that is what it is right now.”
Vrabel was asked if he knew Jacas was going to need a procedure when the Patriots drafted him.
“Again, he just had to have a procedure, and he is not under contract,” Vrabel said. “So, we are excited about Gabe, the person that he is, the play style, his production in college and all that. So, when that gets resolved, we will have him in here and we will coach him, and I am sure we will find a way for him to help our football team.”
Vrabel said he’s not frustrated that the team has not yet been able to work with Jacas since the Patriots traded up in the second round to select him.
“Not one bit,” Vrabel said. “I have been excited to work with the players here and have learned that there are only so many things that you can control.”
The Patriots’ head coach said he didn’t know how far behind Jacas is as the team enters the final portion of the offseason workout program.
“I know that we are here for eight weeks and 10, 11 OTAs or whatever that is,” Vrabel said. “I do not know. I cannot say, will not say. I do not think that is fair to anybody.”
Outside linebackers coach Mike Smith believes Jacas’ absence “would hurt anybody.”
“But he is a smart kid, and when he gets here, we’ll get rolling,” Smith said. “I kind of stay away from whatever’s going on with him right now. But if we’re going to be honest, he does (need to catch up) a little bit, and that’s just something as a coach that you have to adapt to.”
Patriots veteran outside linebacker Harold Landry III didn’t participate in Tuesday’s minicamp practice.
The Patriots are playing it smart with Landry, who missed time late in the season with a knee injury first suffered in Week 6 of the 2025 season.
“Harold has played a lot of football, and so we just have to try to — this is all part of everyone has a little different plan,” Vrabel said. “I think you guys understand that, having spent a year with us and kind of how we operate. So, he is very involved, very heavily involved in the meetings and the workouts and in a leadership role. For him to take reps right now in the spring, I feel like is unnecessary. We will just keep working to make sure that he is ready to go when we need him.”
In the absence of Jacas and Landry, veteran free-agent pickup Dre’Mont Jones and second-year pro Elijah Ponder have taken on the bulk of starting reps on the edge.