Tag: Justus Tavai

Did multiple practice absences reveal Patriots’ next round of cuts?

Patriots might have indirectly revealed recent round of roster cuts.

The New England Patriots returned to the practice field on Sunday with several notable absences.

With the 53-man deadline slated for Tuesday, the team has been hard at work whittling down their roster. Cornerback Quandre Mosely, defensive lineman Carl Davis and linebacker Carson Wells have all reportedly been cut by the team.

Here’s the full list of players that were missing at practice, per NESN’s Zack Cox:

TE Johnny Lumpkin

S Brad Hawkins

TE Scotty Washington

OL Micah Vanterpool

CB Rodney Randle

DL Justus Tavai

RB C.J. Marable

LB Diego Fagot

All of the above players were considered potential roster cuts in training camp. So none of the names on this list would come as any surprise if they don’t make the team.

The Patriots have until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday to get their roster down to 53 players. That means coach Bill Belichick still has more work to do before turning the page to the regular season.

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Patriots announce 2023 rookie jersey numbers ahead of preseason opener

The jersey numbers for the Patriots’ 2023 rookies have been revealed.

The New England Patriots’ 2023 NFL draft class and undrafted free agents are ditching their temporarily assigned numbers for their actual game numbers.

On Thursday, the Patriots announced all of the new numbers ahead of their preseason opener against the Houston Texans.

With rosters being at 90 players at this stage, a lot of these numbers could change as rosters are finalized and numbers shift. It is also important to note that there are some players currently wearing the same number as another player on the roster. That is permitted in training camp, as long as the players aren’t not on the same side of the ball.

Let’s take a look at what numbers the rookies have decided to go with for the next few weeks of training camp.

3 moves made by Patriots on the eve of training camp

The Patriots made three transactions on Tuesday

The New England Patriots were reportedly doing some last minute roster tinkering on Tuesday

Offensive tackle Calvin Anderson was placed on the non-football illness list, and defensive lineman DaMarcus Mitchell was put on the non-football injury list. Meanwhile, undrafted rookie defensive tackle Justus Tavai was removed from the PUP list.

Anderson is one of the veteran offensive lineman that could be competing for reps at the right tackle position. Riley Reiff, who currently has the edge as the starter, is 34 years old and has yet to cement himself as the go-to player for that role.

As for Mitchell, he played in 310 special teams snaps for the Patriots as a rookie last season, and he was surely hoping to build on that effort in training camp.

The good news is Justus Tavai, who is the brother of Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai, is coming off the physically unable to perform list. It’s crucial for him to get reps in training camp if he hopes to have a shot at making the team.

The Patriots are set to open training camp with their first official practice on Wednesday.

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3 Patriots players placed on PUP list ahead of training camp

Here are the three Patriots players that landed on the PUP list

The New England Patriots are set to open training camp this week with at least three players on the physically unable to perform list.

Offensive guard Michael Onwenu, safety/special-teamer Cody Davis and defensive tackle Justus Tavai were all placed on the PUP list ahead of the first week of practice.

Onwenu potentially missing time is a tough blow considering he’s the best offensive lineman on the team. Pro Football Focus ranked him among the best guards in the league last season. He missed all of the spring practices after undergoing ankle surgery in the offseason.

The Patriots could have to lean on rookies Jake Andrews, Sidy Sow and Atonio Mafi until Onwenu is back on his feet.

Meanwhile, Davis has been a key special teams contributor, and Tavai, who is the brother of Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai, is an undrafted rookie that was re-signed by the team in June after initially being released.

The next-man-up mentality is already in full effect for the Patriots before the helmets and shoulder pads come on.

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Report: Patriots re-signing undrafted rookie DT Justus Tavai

Justus Tavai is returning to the Patriots, per multiple reports.

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The New England Patriots added to their roster before their first official mandatory minicamp practice by re-signing undrafted rookie defensive tackle Justus Tavai.

MassLive.com’s Chris Mason reported the news on Monday.

Tavai signed with the Patriots back in May before being released by the team in June. He played 11 games at San Diego State in his final collegiate season, when he totaled 38 tackles, five tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and one interception.

His brother, Jahlani Tavai, is a current linebacker and contributor for the Patriots. So there are some family ties within the organization for the Aztecs’ former standout defensive player.

The timing is perfect for Justus Tavai, who will now have a chance to prove himself on the practice field. A strong showing would give the Patriots reason to keep him around as more than just a camp body.

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Patriots release rookie UDFA defensive lineman Justus Tavai

Patriots announce the release of rookie free agent Justus Tavai.

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Rookie undrafted free agent Justus Tavai’s stay didn’t last long with the New England Patriots.

The team announced they had released the former San Diego State standout defensive player on Friday. Tavai made a splash in his final season with the Aztecs by compiling 34 tackles, five tackles for a loss, one interception and 3.5 sacks.

His brother, Jahlani Tavai, is a current linebacker for the Patriots. So there were some family ties there for Justus if he managed to make the team.

There’s always a chance the team could call back in the future with a practice squad opportunity, but for right now, Justus will have to turn the page and look for his next NFL opportunity elsewhere.

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Newly-signed UDFA Justus Tavai has family ties with Patriots

Rookie DT Justus Tavai is joining his brother, Jahlani Tavai, in New England.

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The New England Patriots have reportedly signed undrafted defensive lineman Justus Tavai, according to Doug Kyed of A to Z Sports.

Justus is the younger brother of Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who has helped build a successful career with the Patriots.

Justus recorded 34 tackles, five tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and one interception in 11 games for San Diego State in the 2022 season. This move gives New England defensive line depth and also allows them to fill out the 90-man roster.

The position is of course headlined by the likes of Christian Barmore and Davon Godchaux. However, this gives the organization another opportunity for production at the position.

It will be interesting to see if Justus Tavai keeps New England’s streak going, as they have had one undrafted free agent make the roster each year since 2004.

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