Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Cleared to make 2025 debut
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Tavai (calf) is active for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Tavai was activated from injured reserve Saturday, and the 2019 second-rounder has been cleared to make his 2025 debut in Sunday's AFC East tilt. Tavai tallied 100-plus tackles in each of the last two seasons but will likely work in a rotational role at inside linebacker with Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Activated from IR
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The Patriots activated Tavai (calf) from injured reserve Saturday.
Tavai remains questionable for Sunday night's duel with the Bills, but this at least gives him a chance to play against the AFC East rival. Tavai logged a career-high 115 tackles (58 solo) across 17 regular-season games in 2024.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Practice window opens
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Tavai (undisclosed) was designated to return from the injured reserve list Wednesday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Tavai missed the Patriots' first four games this season due to an undisclosed injury, but it now appears he's nearing a return. The 29-year-old now has 21 days to be added to New England's active roster before reverting to IR. Once healthy, Tavai will likely reclaim his spot as one of the Patriot's top inside linebackers after posting 115 total tackles and five passes defended across 17 contests in 2024.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Ends up on IR
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Tavai (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
Tavai made the 53-man roster but will be required to miss at least four games with an unspecified injury. The 2019 second-round pick played all 17 games with the Patriots last season and piled up 115 tackles (58 solo), five pass breakups, 1.0 sacks and an interception. Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss are expected to start at the two inside linebacker slots while Tavai recovers.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Starting camp on PUP list
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New England placed Tavai (calf) on the active/PUP list Saturday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Tavai hurt his calf during OTAs in early June and isn't yet ready to practice. He can be taken off the PUP list whenever he's medically cleared, at which point he'd be eligible to practice and participate in preseason contests.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Injured at OTAs on Monday
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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.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Logs 10 tackles against Bolts
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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.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Productive versus Cardinals
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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 away from 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.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Tallies seven stops in loss
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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. Tavai should remain busy in a Week 12 matchup against the Dolphins.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Nursing back injury
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Tavai (back) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.
Tavai may have picked up a back injury during the Patriots' Week 8 win over the Jets, during which he logged six tackles (four solo). He'll have two more chances to increase his practice participation ahead of Sunday's game against the Titans. Through the first eight games of the regular season, Tavai has logged 48 tackles (24 soloo) and one pass breakup.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Solid versus Texans
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Tavai produced eight tackles (three solo) in the 41-21 loss to the Texans in Week 6.
Tavai was one of two New England defenders to tally eight tackles. He was on the field for 52 defensive snaps (84 percent) and 14 on special teams (47 percent). The linebacker will look to build on his solid performance in Week 7 at Jacksonville.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Tallies nine tackles vs. Gang Green
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Tavai finished Thursday's 24-3 loss to the Jets with nine tackles (five solo).
Tavai was the second-leading tackler for New England on Thursday behind Raekwon McMillan (10). Tavai joined strong safety Kyle Dugger as the only two Patriots players to play every single defensive snap in the loss. Tavai has seen a heavy workload on defense over the last two weeks, and through the first three games of the regular season he has accrued 18 tackles (11 solo) and one pass defended.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Logs 110 tackles during 2023 season
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Tavai recorded 110 tackles, two interceptions and a sack in 17 games with the Patriots during the 2023 regular season.
Per Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site, Tavai finished the campaign as Pro Football Focus' fourth-ranked linebacker with an 86.5 grade, while taking a step forward as a hybrid ILB/OLB for the team. It's a role that the 2019 second-rounder is slated to reprise, with Tavai signed with New England through the 2024 season.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Limited practice Thursday
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Tavai (teeth) was a limited participant at the Patriots' practice Thursday.
Tavai appears to be dealing with a mouth injury to open the week, logging limited sessions both Wednesday and Thursday. It's unclear if he's in danger of missing Sunday's contest against the Jets, but if he's forced to sit, Mack Wilson could draw a start at inside linebacker.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Records 10 tackles
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Tavai finished with 10 tackles (four solo), including a tackle for a loss, in the Patriots' 27-21 defeat to the Bills on Sunday.
The fifth-year linebacker, who signed a two-year extension with New England in 2022, continued his career-best season with another strong performance. Tavai has set career highs in tackles (104), solo tackles (59), passes defensed (five) and interceptions (two).
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Chance to play Week 16
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Tavai (ankle) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday night's game against the Broncos.
The 27-year-old seems to have suffered an ankle injury at some point within the last week, and after a limited week of practice, he's got a chance to play in Week 16. Tavai's availability will be something to look out for Sunday, as Ja'Whaun Bentley (knee) is also listed as questionable, meaning New England could be without both of their top inside linebackers. If Tavai is unable to suit up in Week 16, Mack Wilson would likely see increased snaps for the Patriots' defense.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Monster performance versus Steelers
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Tavai recorded 15 tackles (eight solo) in Thursday's 21-18 win over the Steelers.
Tavai was all over the field in Week 14, securing a season-high 15 takedowns in the road victory. The linebacker has now compiled 23 tackles over the last two games, and he'll look to keep it going against the Chiefs in Week 15.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Season-high snap count in loss
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Tavai had seven tackles (three solo) in Sunday's 31-17 loss to the Dolphins.
Tavai played a season-high 68 defensive snaps Sunday while also playing on 96 percent of special-teams snaps. He saw more action on defense with Ja'Whaun Bentley (hamstring) exiting the game in the second half. Tavai and Mack Wilson -- who also had seven tackles in the game -- will see more defensive snaps in Week 9 against the Commanders if Bentley is unable to play.
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Jahlani Tavai: Time up in Detroit
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The Lions waived Tavai on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Detroit attempted to trade Tavai before cutting him but could not finalize a deal. A 2019 second-round pick, Tavai has struggled in pass coverage across two seasons in Detroit, and an underwhelming preseason appears to have represented his final chance to stick with the team. Tavai could get another opportunity in the league, but his chances of attaining IDP fantasy relevance are looking increasingly slim.
