Tag: NEW ENGLAND

Bills linebacker Matt Milano pulls in a pass during interception drills during the second day of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Pittsford.

Bills LB Matt Milano returns for game vs. Patriots

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Buffalo linebacker Matt Milano is active after being listed as questionable for the Bills’ home game against the New England Patriots on Sunday night after missing the previous two contests with a pectoral injury.

Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (ankle) is inactive, marking his fourth consecutive game missed contest after getting hurt in the 41-40 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.

Left tackle Spencer Brown (calf) was upgraded from questionable to playing on Sunday, while defensive tackle T.J. Sanders (knee) went from questionable status to inactive.

Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams (ankle) and linebacker Jahlani Tavai (calf) were questionable but are active. Williams was limited at practice on Wednesday and Friday and sat out Thursday’s session. Tavai was the team’s leading tackler in 2024 and will be on the field for the first time this season after he was activated from injured reserve on Saturday following a full week of practice.

Cornerback Carlton Davis (illness) went from questionable to active. New England downgraded linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson (knee) to out on Saturday.

Other inactives for Buffalo (4-0): wide receiver Elijah Moore, linebacker Dorian Williams (knee), defensive tackle Chase Lundt and cornerbacks Brandon Codrington and Jordan Hancock.

Inactives for New England (2-2): Chaisson, defensive tackle Eric Gregory, guard Caedan Wallace, wide receiver Efton Chism and quarterback Tommy DeVito (emergency third QB).

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) looks to pass the ball during the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

Patriots QB Drake Maye clashes with confident Panthers in game with hometown feel

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The Carolina Panthers haven’t been in this position much in recent years — coming off a dominant winning performance.

So they’ll face the New England Patriots with a new-found energy and enthusiasm on Sunday at Foxborough, Mass.

“There’s a level of confidence to show the guys the work works,” Carolina coach Dave Canales said. “This is a really focused group. We have to have the same type of focus.”

The Patriots (1-2) are still trying to figure out where their strengths will be after a frustrating 21-14 home setback to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“When it’s there, you kind of know it,” New England coach Mike Vrabel said. “I don’t want us to forget about the positives and all the good things that have happened.”

The Panthers (1-2) saw many good elements while whipping visiting Atlanta 30-0 last week.

For Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, Sunday’s game is a chance to play against his hometown team. He’s from the Charlotte area, where he starred in high school.

“Being a fan of Cam (Newton) is probably the biggest thing,” Maye said of what he described as vast memories of the Panthers, including their former star quarterback, while growing up.

This season, Maye has thrown for 261.7 yards per game with five touchdown throws and two interceptions. He has been sacked 12 times.

“He has got some special throws in him,” Canales said of Maye.

Tight end Hunter Henry has been a productive player on New England’s offense, catching two touchdown passes last week. But the Patriots realize they need to take better advantage of moving the ball after collecting 26 first downs but just two touchdowns.

“We’ve got to score more,” Henry said. “We’ve got to sustain drives.”

Yet the Patriots know they must clean up mistakes after committing five turnovers against the Steelers.

“Turnovers are the No. 1 thing in this league that will get you beat,” Henry said.

New England’s defense didn’t record a sack last week, though putting pressure on Carolina quarterback Bryce Young before he becomes too comfortable might be essential.

Canales said Vrabel’s teams won’t necessarily be fancy.

“I think the signature is: They don’t do a lot; what they do, they do really well,” Canales said. “They have some wrinkles, but it’s pretty good just clean football.”

New England has held each of its first three opponents to less than 65 rushing yards. If Carolina fails to reach 100 rushing yards, it will mark the second time the Patriots keep their first four opponents under 100 rushing yards — the other coming in 1964.

The Patriots could use a boost on the ground as well. Maye was their top rusher with 45 yards last week. They’ve yet to have a player reach 55 rushing yards in a game this season.

Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald has lofted knuckleball-type boots on kickoffs for the Panthers, who will be in their third road game. That’s something the Patriots are spending more time on in preparation this week.

“It’s impressive,” Vrabel said of those kicks. “I sat there and looked at it for two hours (Tuesday) night.”

There’s a chance that New England has cornerback Christian Gonzalez back from a hamstring injury this weekend, Vrabel said.

Meanwhile, Carolina might have questions about receivers as Tetairoa McMillan (calf) and Xavier Legette (hamstring), who was inactive for the Atlanta game and didn’t practice Wednesday. Linebacker D.J. Wonnum (hip) also sat out the workout.

The teams are 4-4 against each other, though Carolina is 4-3 in regular-season matchups. This will be the Panthers’ first trip to Gillette Stadium since winning 33-30 in 2017.

–Field Level Media

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, left, shares a laugh with Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel after a joint training camp practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park Aug. 14, 2019 in Nashville. Nas Titans 8 14 Observations 030

Mike Vrabel: Bill Belichick welcome at Pats’ facility

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New England head coach Mike Vrabel says six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick is welcome at the Patriots’ facilities “to the best of my knowledge.”

Vrabel gave that statement Monday, responding to Belichick’s recent claim that he wasn’t welcome in Foxborough.

Vrabel added that “nothing surprises me” when asked about Belichick, in his first year as head coach at North Carolina, retaliating to the alleged slight by banning Patriots scouts from his campus.

“Bill came back for, to the best of my knowledge, (to) Tom’s ceremony,” Vrabel said in his weekly interview Monday with WEEI, referencing Belichick’s appearance at Tom Brady’s team Hall of Fame ceremony in June 2024. “So I guess he’s welcomed back based on the fact he was there. I’ll just go by that — since his departure as the head coach here, he’s been back. I’ll leave it at that.”

Belichick confirmed his ban of New England scouts following Saturday night’s 20-3 win against Charlotte, his first victory with the Tar Heels.

“It’s obvious I’m not welcome at their facility, so they’re not welcome at ours,” Belichick said.

Vrabel lost his coaching debut with the Patriots on Sunday, falling 20-13 at home to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Vrabel won three Super Bowl rings as a linebacker with Belichick’s Patriots from 2001-08.

–Field Level Media

May 9, 2025; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel speaks the to media during a press conference at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Mike Vrabel feels ‘energy,’ ‘excitement’ at Patriots’ first OTA

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Coming off consecutive 4-13 seasons, the New England Patriots are hoping to turn the page quickly under new head coach Mike Vrabel.

“I think there’s an excitement. There’s an energy,” Vrabel told reporters Tuesday as the team’s offseason program got underway. ” I think there’s a willingness of players that walk in and want to improve, want to get to know the new players and the ones that they’re familiar with from last year, the coaches and everything else. We’re just constantly trying to build that each and every day.”

Vrabel, who played for the Patriots from 2001-08 and coached the Tennessee Titans from 2018-23, replaces Jerod Mayo. Mayo only coached one season after succeeding six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick.

Right now, Vrabel said the Patriots are trying to integrate second-year quarterback Drake Maye and the rest of the roster into a new system ahead of next month’s mandatory minicamp.

“I think everybody’s worked extremely hard, including Drake, to pick up what we want to do offensively and defensively,” Vrabel said. “Now that has to start to translate onto the practice field in a spring setting, without pads, and I think that we’re off to a good start. We had a positive day. We were able to mix some speed stuff in and competitive stuff to a point.”

Although these are non-contact sessions, Vrabel said there are still things he wants to see in every practice.

“That we’re in and out of the huddle, that there are clean substitutions, that there’s communication,” he began. “You hear the defense making checks when somebody on the offense moves or motions. There’s coordination, and that the offense is moving with urgency and that the play clock isn’t sitting at zero for four seconds. All of the operational things.

“And then there’s obviously got to be a level of execution when we’re in the speed, and then when we get to the jog-through, can we practice at a tempo that’s less than 100-percent and still get something out of it.”

Vrabel confirmed that the Patriots will hold joint practices during training camp later this summer with both the Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings.

He also gave an update on running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who is dealing with the passing of his father in March.

“We’re extremely excited to have him with us. I’ve been in constant communication with him, and obviously our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as they heal and they grieve, and I want to be a part of that to help him, and get to know him,” Vrabel said of Stevenson, also praising his on-field effort and performance from last season.

“He’s going to be a large part of what we do, and we’ll just have to determine where he’s at when he’s back here,” Vrabel said of Stevenson.

New England opens the regular season at home against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 7.

–Field Level Media

Dec 1, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona (49) walks out of the player's tunnel before a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Patriots release longtime LS Joe Cardona

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Long snapper Joe Cardona, who won two Super Bowls in 10 seasons with the New England Patriots and was their longest-tenured player, was released by the team on Tuesday.

Cardona, 33, joined the Patriots out of Navy as a fifth-round pick in the 2015 draft. He played in 160 regular-season games — including 16 last season — and 13 postseason games. He was a member of the Super Bowl LI and Super Bowl LIII champions.

The Patriots drafted Cardona’s potential successor, Vanderbilt long snapper Julian Ashby, in the seventh round of last weekend’s NFL draft.

–Field Level Media

Nov 17, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry III (58) celebrates the fumble recovery against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Reports: Patriots signing LB Harold Landry III, TE Austin Hooper

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The New England Patriots signed free agent outside linebacker Harold Landry III on a three-year contract and re-signed tight end Austin Hooper to a one-year deal, according to media reports on Sunday night.

Landry, a one-time Pro Bowl selection who was recently released by the Tennessee Titans in a salary cap move, has a new contract worth $43.5 million with $26 million guaranteed, per reports.

Hooper, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, is returning to New England on a $5 million contract with a maximum value of $7 million, ESPN reported.

Both players have connections to the Patriots’ new head coach, Mike Vrabel, when he was at the helm of the Titans, as well as to other New England coaches.

Vrabel used a Titans second-round draft pick in 2018 to select Landry. The Patriots’ new defensive coordinator, Terrell Williams, was the Titans’ defensive line coach under Vrabel from 2018-23.

Hooper spent time with Vrabel at Tennessee in 2022 and with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels with Las Vegas in 2023, when McDaniels was the Raiders’ head coach.

Landry, 28, was the Titans’ longest-tenured player when he was released. He would have earned $17.5 million in base salary with a $24.05 million cap hit in 2025.

He started all 17 games last season and made 71 tackles with a team-high nine sacks as well as 15 tackles for loss, one safety, 15 quarterback hits and four pass breakups.

He has 397 career tackles in 98 regular-season games (79 starts) with 50.5 sacks, 70 tackles for loss, 102 QB hits, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

After being voted to the Pro Bowl in 2021, Landry signed a five-year, $87 million deal in 2022 but tore his ACL in the preseason and missed the entire campaign.

Hooper, 30, caught 45 passes on 59 targets for 476 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games (eight starts) in his first season in New England.

A Pro Bowl selection in 2018 and 2019, Hooper has 409 career receptions for 4,178 yards and 28 touchdowns in 139 regular-season games (76 starts) for the Atlanta Falcons (2016-19), Cleveland Browns (2020-21), Titans (2022), Raiders (2023) and Patriots.

The Falcons selected him in the third round of the 2016 draft.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Sione Takitaki (16) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Patriots release LB Sione Takitaki

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The New England Patriots released six-year veteran linebacker Sione Takitaki on Wednesday after his lone season with the team.

Takitaki, 29, played in 11 games (four starts) and totaled 21 tackles. He has 289 career tackles with four sacks, 14 tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 83 regular-season games (40 starts) for the Cleveland Browns (2019-23) and Patriots.

He also has 11 tackles and one interception in three playoff games (all starts) for Cleveland.

The Browns selected Takitaki in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of BYU.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense coordinator Byron Leftwich against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images

Report: Patriots interviewing Byron Leftwich

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The New England Patriots are interviewing Byron Leftwich for their head coaching vacancy on Tuesday, The Athletic reported.

The Patriots fired Jerod Mayo on Sunday after compiling a 4-13 record in his first season in Foxborough.

Leftwich, 44, most recently worked as the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2019-22, a stint that included a Super Bowl win in the 2020 season.

Leftwich was fired by Bucs head coach Todd Bowles after the 2022 season, which saw Tampa Bay slip from the top 3 in scoring the previous three seasons to No. 15 in yards and No. 25 in points in 2022.

A quarterback and first-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2003 NFL Draft, Leftwich had a 24-26 record with 10,532 passing yards and 58 touchdowns in 60 games with the Jaguars (2003-06), Atlanta Falcons (2007), Bucs (2009) and Steelers (2008, 2010, 2012).

He was also the interim offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals in 2018.

Leftwich told The Athletic that he’s ready to get back into coaching.

“There’s something missing. … I really do feel as though something’s not there, and I’ve got to get back to it,” he said. “I’m really into helping other players. I want to help them to play the best. I love to teach.

“Just give me the opportunity. Bring me in and see. Communicate with me, see if I’m the right type of leader you want. Do your homework. See if I can lead men. … See if I know my X’s and O’s. See if I know people. See if I know what needs to be done to succeed at the job.”

New England’s 23-16 win over Buffalo in Sunday’s season finale secured the No. 4 overall selection in April’s NFL draft, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft seems to be moving quickly to get a new head coach in place.

Kraft said Monday that the front office will remain intact and that the coaching search will be headed by Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith.

Former Tennessee Titans coach and longtime Patriots player Mike Vrabel is also reportedly expected to interview along with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; London, United Kingdom; New England Patriots wide receiver K.J. Osborn (2) during an NFL International Series game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Reports: Patriots to waive WR K.J. Osborn

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The New England Patriots are waiving wide receiver K.J. Osborn, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

Osborn, 27, has played in seven games (four starts) and has seven receptions on 18 targets for 57 yards and one touchdown. He has participated in 53 percent (232) of the offensive snaps. He has not played since the Patriots’ 19-3 victory at Chicago on Nov. 10.

The Patriots signed Osborn as a free agent in March after he spent four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Osborn has 165 career receptions for 1,902 yards and 16 TDs in 66 regular-season games (34 starts).

New England also is expected to sign rookie kicker John Parker Romo to the practice squad, NFL Network reported on Tuesday. Romo, 27, played in four games this season for the Vikings, making 11 of 12 field-goal attempts with a long of 55 yards, and seven of eight extra-point attempts.

The Patriots’ starting kicker is veteran Joey Slye.

–Field Level Media

Nov 17, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Patriots will try to reverse road struggles against the Dolphins

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Hitting the road to face the Miami Dolphins has been anything but easy for the New England Patriots over the past 11 years.

Since 2013, New England is 2-9 against the Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Fla., where the Patriots will attempt to pick up a rare win on Sunday afternoon.

First-year coach Jerod Mayo has been in the thick of New England’s struggles in the Sunshine State. He spent his entire playing career (2008-15) with the Patriots, then served as inside linebackers coach from 2019-23 before taking over at the helm.

Mayo is making sure that New England (3-8) leaves the past in the past come Sunday, though.

“First and foremost, I won’t address it with the guys as far as the struggles that we’ve had in Miami, even though they’re probably listening to me right now,” Mayo said. “But what I will say is every game is unique. … It’s a tough place to play. It’s not that it’s super loud or anything like that.

“We just haven’t been able to get over the hump.”

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, has given Mayo a reason to believe that New England can turn the corner against Miami (4-6). Maye continued to take steps in the right direction by completing 29 of 39 passes for 282 yards, two touchdowns and one interception during a 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday.

Dolphins signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa has been impressed with what he has seen from the 22-year-old Maye so far and is eager to go up against him.

“I respect his game. I respect his game a lot,” Tagovailoa said. “He’s a rookie, so there’s gonna be bumps within his journey. But you see a lot of flashes of things that he can do, not just inside the pocket, outside of the pocket as well.

“I got a lot of respect for him, and looking forward to competing against him.”

Tagovailoa most recently threw for 288 yards and three scores on 28-for-36 passing Miami’s 34-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday. One of his favorite targets was former New England tight end Jonnu Smith, who hauled in six catches for 101 yards and two TDs.

Miami has rattled off back-to-back wins on the heels of a three-game losing streak that began after a 15-10 victory against the Patriots in Week 5.

“We’re looking to go out there and play the plays with what they’ve presented us over the years,” Tagovailoa said, referring to the Dolphins’ familiarity with New England’s game plan. “If we need to adjust in any way, we’ll adjust.”

Cornerback Kendall Fuller (concussion) and offensive tackle Terron Armstead (knee) missed Miami’s practice on Wednesday. Six Dolphins were limited, including star wideout Tyreek Hill (wrist) and cornerback Jalen Ramsey (knee).

Defensive end Deatrich Wise (foot), offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (shoulder) and defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (neck) did not practice for the Patriots on Wednesday. Safety Kyle Dugger was among those limited — due to an ankle injury — and defensive end Keion White (knee) also failed to practice in full.

–Field Level Media