News Patriots Team Notes

Patriots sign veteran Brenden Jaimes to practice squad in center swap

gettyimages-2177706617.jpg


In Foxborough, the first week of the regular season began with a change on the interior offensive line.

The New England Patriots signed veteran Brenden Jaimes to the practice squad on Monday. To make room among the group of 17, the organization announced the release of fellow center Alec Lindstrom.

Jaimes, 26, has appeared in 46 games since entering the NFL in the fifth round of the 2021 draft at pick No. 159 overall. After four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, he signed with the Tennessee Titans as an unrestricted free agent in April and was released at the 53-man roster cutdown last week.

A 6-foot-5, 300-pound Nebraska product, Jaimes stands with three career starts. His time in the league has included 274 snaps on offense along with 197 snaps on special teams.

Lindstrom, 27, signed with his hometown team as training camp got underway in July and was retained on the practice squad at its formation upon clearing waivers. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound native of Dudley, Mass., went undrafted in 2022 after twice earning first-team All-ACC honors at Boston College. He spent his rookie year on the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys before entering the UFL ranks.

Stints with the Los Angeles Rams and New York Jets followed for Lindstrom in 2024. His NFL debut came in the kicking game last campaign. Then, a spring return to the Memphis Showboats brought 10 starts at center.

The Las Vegas Raiders visit Gillette Stadium for the season opener next Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...-jaimes-release-alec-lindstrom-practice-squad
 
K’Lavon Chaisson to serve as extra ‘game captain’ for Patriots vs. Raiders

gettyimages-2228885342.jpg


The New England Patriots announced their team captains on Monday, but the six men will not be the only ones carrying that honor into the season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders. Outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson has also been named a special “game captain” by head coach Mike Vrabel.

Vrabel revealed Chaisson as a seventh captain for Week 1 after naming the permanent six captains.

“The game captain, because he got votes on special teams and defense, KC,” Vrabel told the team ahead of Monday’s practice.

Chaisson joined the Patriots in March via a one-year, $3 million free agency deal. Since then, he has been a mainstay for the team along the defensive edge and recently played himself into a starter spot opposite fellow offseason addition Harold Landry. As evidenced by the fact he received captaincy votes in two areas, the 26-year-old also projects to play a prominent role in the kicking game.

Before arriving in New England, Chaisson spent four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had selected him 20th overall in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He later had a brief offseason stint in Carolina before making his way to the Raiders. In his lone season in Las Vegas, he set new career highs in sacks (5) and forced fumbles (1).

Now going up against his ex-club, he will join the Patriots’ other captains. The six players announced to hold that title for every game this season are quarterback Drake Maye, tight end Hunter Henry, the aforementioned Harold Landry, linebacker Robert Spillane, cornerback Marcus Jones, and special teamer Brenden Schooler.

New England will kick off its 2025 season at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 7, versus the Raiders at Gillette Stadium.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...klavon-chaisson-game-captain-patriots-raiders
 
Patriots work out group of wide receivers, defensive backs heading into Week 1

gettyimages-2231760740.jpg


Seven free agents stopped by Gillette Stadium to begin the first week of the regular season.

The New England Patriots worked out wide receivers Andrew Armstrong and Jakobie Keeney-James as well as defensive backs Tyron Herring, Doneiko Slaughter, Major Williams, Trey Dean and Malik Dixon-Williams on Tuesday, according to the NFL transaction wire.

Armstrong, 24, signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in May. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound rookie wideout was waived at the league’s 53-man roster deadline to end August. After beginning his collegiate career at Texas A&M-Commerce, Armstrong went on to amass 134 catches for 1,904 yards and six touchdowns across a pair of campaigns at Arkansas. The reigning first-team All-SEC selection led the conference in receptions, receiving yards and receiving yards per game in 2024.

Keeney-James, 24, was waived by the Detroit Lions during roster cutdowns after arriving as an undrafted rookie in the spring. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver spent five seasons at Eastern Washington before moving on to Massachusetts as a graduate student in 2024. He led the Minutemen with 50 catches for 839 yards and six touchdowns through 12 games last fall.

Herring, 24, joined the Green Bay Packers as a rookie free agent following April’s NFL draft. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound cornerback spent four years at Dartmouth before heading to Delaware in 2023. He went on to serve as a team captain, totaling 72 tackles, four interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery across 23 games with the Blue Hens. Second-team All-CAA honors and an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl were garnered as a graduate student.

Slaughter, 23, agreed to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2025. The 6-foot, 190-pound cornerback finished his collegiate run at Arkansas in 2024 following four years at Tennessee. Altogether, he tallied 167 tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two interceptions. From the Volunteers to the Razorbacks, Slaughter appeared in 56 games with 28 starts.

Williams, 24, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in May after attending rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound defensive back transferred from Virginia and twice earned D2Football.com All-American recognition at Carson-Newman. Dating back to 2022, his tenure there brought 155 tackles and 3.5 sacks along with four interceptions, one forced fumble and two recoveries. Two touchdowns were added on punt returns.

Dean, 25, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Florida in 2023. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound safety spent his rookie year between the practice squads of the New York Jets and Super Bowl LVIII champion Chiefs. A stint with the Cleveland Browns followed before he joined the DC Defenders in the spring and won the 2025 UFL championship. An interception was notched in the postseason.

Dixon-Williams, 24, signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted rookie in April and was waived in August. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound safety played collegiately at UConn dating back to 2019. He finished his 46-game Huskies career with 258 tackles, seven interceptions and a touchdown runback. Two forced fumbles were also forced.

The practice squad currently carries an open spot following the release of rookie defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie.

The Las Vegas Raiders visit Foxborough on Sunday. The opening kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...s-work-out-seven-free-agents-andrew-armstrong
 
New England Patriots links 9/03/25 – Season predictions

gettyimages-2226955891.jpg


TEAM TALK


LOCAL LINKS

  • Steve Balestrieri‘s Patriots–Raiders Week 1 key matchups as the Vrabel Era begins. 1. Patriots RBs vs. Raiders front seven: Edge New England.
  • Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry gaze into their Patriots crystal ball to predict 2025 stats, storylines and more. 1. Stefon Diggs will finish the 2025 season with 71 catches for 816 yards and six TDs.
  • Chris Mason posts the MassLive experts’ predictions for the Patriots’ record in 2025, Super Bowl and division winners.
  • Andrew Callahan‘s 2025 NFL season preview: Super Bowl predictions, division picks and award winners. Bills win division. Coach of the year: Mike Vrabel. ‘The Patriots make the playoffs after four losing seasons in five years and back-to-back 4-13 campaigns. Enough said.’
  • Alex Barth explains how from Day 1, the Patriots have a lot riding on their 2025 rookie class.
  • Ryan O’Leary suggests Mike Vrabel is prioritizing culture over talent in Year 1 as Patriots head coach.
  • Phil Perry points out Christian Gonzalez will be eligible for a contract extension next offseason and may want to play it safe with his hamstring in the early part of the season to ensure he can play up to his standards and secure his own payday in 2026.
  • Meghan Ottolini notes Drake Maye feels he has ‘a lot to live up to’ as first-time Patriots captain
  • Alex Barth reports Jack Westover has been playing fullback for much of the summer. Now, he has the jersey number to reflect his new position.
  • Alex Barth reports the Patriots hosted a group of 7 WRs and DBs for free agent workouts.
  • Mike D’Abate reports Patriots three-time Super Bowl Champion, safety Duron Harmon retires.
  • Taylor Kyles and Mike Kadlick react to the Patriots’ captains: Who were the biggest surprises, and which players were the biggest snubs? (5 min. video)
  • Pats Procrastination podcast: Clare and Chudders take us into Week 1 vs. the Raiders (38 min. video)

NATIONAL NEWS

  • Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Mike Vrabel expects Stefon Diggs to play in Week 1.
  • Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Mike Vrabel: Wasn’t right time for Patriots to pursue Micah Parsons.
  • Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) 2025 NFL preview: The top 10 breakout candidates, highlighted by a pair of second-year quarterbacks. Drake Maye included. /Click for commentary.
  • Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) NFL predictions 2025: Expert picks for final standings, playoffs, Super Bowl 60. Patriots 7-10, 2nd place in division. ‘Patriots have buzz but watch out for 2026 more with Mike Vrabel.’
  • MMQB Staff (SI) 2025 NFL predictions: Super Bowl, playoffs and award winners.
  • Staff (Yahoo! Sports) 2025 NFL predictions: Super Bowl champion, MVP, biggest surprise/disappointment, team who picks No. 1 and more
  • Staff (NFL.com) Super Bowl LX picks, predictions.
  • Eric Edholm (NFL.com) NFL power rankings entering Week 1. Patriots 22nd, Raiders 25th.
  • Eva Geitheim (SI) Five quarterbacks that have most to prove during 2025 NFL season. Pats not included.
  • Alex Kirshner (The Ringer) The last gasp of Steelers exceptionalism; Pittsburgh has long acted like it’s better than its NFL peers. As the Aaron Rodgers era begins, will this team be anything more than average?
  • Jeff Kerr (CBS Sports) New kickoff rule has improvements for 2025, but there’s still one change NFL needs to address.
  • Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) NFL MVP, players of the year will wear gold shield patch on jerseys.
  • Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) NFL says it won’t play on opening Friday of 2026 season.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...188/patriots-links-9-03-25-season-predictions
 
Patriots vs. Raiders Wednesday injury report: Christian Gonzalez the lone non-participant

imagn-25001512.jpg


The New England Patriots practiced with an active roster of 52 on Wednesday.

Starting cornerback Christian Gonzalez remained the lone absence as work on the Las Vegas Raiders continued. The reigning All-Pro has not practiced since a hamstring injury arose during the first padded session of training camp in July. With the calendar now turned to September, his availability for the season opener is in doubt.

Here’s the initial injury report leading up to Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium.

DID NOT PARTICIPATE​

Patriots​

  • CB Christian Gonzalez (hamstring)

Raiders​

  • No players listed

No member of the 2024 Patriots defense played more snaps than Gonzalez’s 978. Only one start was missed by the former No. 17 overall pick. “He’s continuing to work and he’ll do some stuff on the side, but I’m not going to rule anybody out,” head coach Mike Vrabel said during his Wednesday press conference. “… We’ll continue to work and treat and make sure that we’re doing everything we can to help him, and he’s doing everything he can to get back out on the field.”

LIMITED PARTICIPATION​

Patriots​

  • CB Charles Woods (concussion, groin)

Raiders​

  • No players listed

Also in the secondary, Woods practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday due to a concussion as well as a groin injury. The sophomore cornerback had been claimed off waivers in Foxborough following the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline. He spent his rookie season with the Los Angeles Rams.

FULL PARTICIPATION​

Patriots​

  • WR Efton Chism III (knee)

Raiders​

  • QB Kenny Pickett (hamstring)
  • CB Kyu Blu Kelly (hamstring)

Working back from a knee issue, Chism went in full for the Patriots on Wednesday. He had stayed sidelined for August’s finale after catching 12 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns through two preseason games. The undrafted rookie out of Eastern Washington resides on an active roster featuring six wide receivers.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...ury-report-christian-gonzalez-non-participant
 
Patriots relying on anticipation and adaption against new-look Raiders

gettyimages-2230334797.jpg


Their upcoming season opener will be the first real opportunity for Mike Vrabel and his new-look New England Patriots coaching staff to present themselves to the NFL. The same is true for their opponent: the Las Vegas Raiders also made sweeping changes in this area over the offseason.

Hiring Pete Carroll as their new head coach as well Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator, the Raiders are set to look quite different from the team that went just 4-13 in 2024. What exactly they will look like, however, remains a mystery and thus a challenge for New England.

How are Vrabel and company trying to meet said challenge? By adhering to the two As: anticipation and adaptation.

“They have a first-year defensive coach with a coordinator that’s been there and done stuff, and then they have a new offensive coordinator who’s been in the NFL and has also come from The Ohio State University. And so, that’s a pretty unique blend of what we have to try to anticipate,” New England’s head coach said on Wednesday.

“There’s going to be numerous plays in the game that we won’t have seen or we won’t have run in practice in this preparation. That’s how it goes.”

“You go through training camp and you have rules in place,” added special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer on Thursday. “You just have to be ready for everything and be ready to, if they come out in something different that you haven’t seen before you hope your rules hold up against those things right there. And if they don’t, you adjust halftime, throughout the game. That’s how it goes in Week 1, but everyone, every team is going through the same thing. So, it’s just the way it goes.”

Led by Carroll, the longtime Seattle Seahawks head coach who also held that title in New England in the late 90s, the Raiders’ coaching setup is a new one. However, its individual members — from the head coach, to the coordinators, to the starting quarterback — all have a track record the Patriots hope to use to their advantage.

“Just trying to get themes and concepts and ideas of what they may want to do defensively with [Patrick Graham] and Pete’s style and scheme,” Vrabel said, “and then what they may want to do offensively from what Chip’s done in the past in the NFL, from what he’s done in college, what Geno [Smith] likes. Certainly, quarterbacks in this league like things, and will get things added, so I’m sure there will be things that he’s liked that they’ll run from plays he liked in Seattle.”

One thing the Raiders are atop their organizational structure is seasoned. Carroll is on his third head coaching job in the NFL and a one-time Super Bowl winner from his time in Seattle. His coordinators — Chip Kelly on offense, Patrick Graham on defense, Tom McMahon on special teams — are all longtime veterans in their respective fields. Geno Smith, meanwhile, started his NFL career in 2013 and brought the experience of four teams and 84 career starts to Las Vegas.

As a result, Vrabel and the Patriots know they cannot overthink Sunday’s game.

“The one thing you don’t want to be is too cute, certainly, in Week 1 or at any time, and think, ‘Well, they know and they think we’re going to do this, so then we’re going to do this,’” he said. “We have to be really sound and use our rules, and if we see something that’s new, we have to keep our composure and keep our poise and figure out ways to make it work.”
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...pation-adaption-new-look-raiders-pete-carroll
 
Raiders wide receiver retires 3 days before Patriots game

imagn-10426781.jpg


Just three days before the season opener versus the New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper has opted to retire. According to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the 31-year-old “informed the team that he no longer has the desire to play football.”

Cooper, 31, returned to Las Vegas on Aug. 25 via a one-year, $3.5 million contract. The deal allowed him to return to his football roots: the Raiders gave him his start in the league, making him the fourth overall selection in the NFL Draft back in 2015.

Between that selection and his retirement, he spent time in Las Vegas as well as with the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills. In total, Cooper appeared in a combined 162 regular season and playoff games and caught 742 total passes for 10,378 yards and 66 touchdowns. He was voted to the Pro Bowl on five occasions, most recently in 2023.

His retirement now removes a layer of depth from the Patriots’ Week 1 opponent. While no longer projecting as a high-volume player at this stage in his career, Cooper would have provided experienced depth in the Raiders’ wide receiver. With him gone, that room now consists of Tre Tucker, Jakobi Meyers and rookies Dont’e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech. Las Vegas also has three receivers — Alex Bachman, Shedrick Jackson, Justin Shorter — on its practice squad as possible promotion candidates.

The Patriots will welcome the Raiders to Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7, for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/around-t...ide-receiver-amari-cooper-retirement-patriots
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top