Tag: Sione Takitaki

3 major contributors return to practice for the Patriots on Wednesday

The banged-up Patriots finally got some good news

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo revealed that wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, as well as linebackers Sione Takitaki and Marte Mapu, will be returning to practice after being on the PUP list.

While fans should probably temper their expectations, Mayo didn’t rule out the possibility of those players playing in Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins.

“I wouldn’t say it’s unrealistic,” said Mayo. “We have to see how the next couple of days go.”

All three would provide reinforcements to their respective positions. Bourne has not played a down of football since last October, when he went down with a season-ending ACL injury. Mapu’s injury was undisclosed, while Takitaki is recovering from a knee scope.

Getting all three players back on the field would undoubtedly help a Patriots team trying to overcome talent deficiencies on both sides of the ball.

Bourne could especially provide a spark for the struggling offense. Before the injury, the veteran pass-catcher led the Patriots in receiving yards. That kind of talent added to the mix could be significant.

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Patriots announce seven injury moves ahead of roster cut deadline

This is potentially good news for DT Christian Barmore

The New England Patriots made multiple injury transactions ahead of Tuesday’s 53-man roster deadline.

They placed wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, guard Cole Strange and linebacker Sione Takitaki on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. Defensive tackle Christian Barmore was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.

Linebacker Marte Mapu, defensive tackle Armon Watts and offensive tackle Calvin Anderson were placed on injured reserve.

Barmore and Mapu are both designated for returns. So the Patriots defense could be getting a huge lift down the road with the two players potentially coming back.

This is a positive sign for Barmore in particular considering he’s out indefinitely after being diagnosed with blood clots. There is no clear timetable for his eventual return, but this latest designation leaves the door open for him to return this season.

That’s great news for a Patriots defense that heavily depends on his presence up front to win in the trenches.

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Patriots make five roster moves ahead of training camp

The Patriots made five roster moves on Tuesday

It was a busy Tuesday for the New England Patriots with media obligations and multiple roster moves a day before training camp officially opens.

Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots placed running back Antonio Gibson on the active/non-football injury list.

They also placed wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, center Jake Andrews, guard Cole Strange and linebacker Sione Takitaki on the active/physically unable to perform list.

Takitaki is recovering from a knee scope procedure, according to Reiss.

The situation with Gibson is the one to keep an eye on considering the Patriots were already coming into camp thin at the running back position.

They have Rhamondre Stevenson as their No. 1 option, but without Gibson, they are down to Kevin Harris as their top backup.

Will the Patriots keep things as is, or could they go out and sign a veteran player, like Leonard Fournette or Kareem Hunt, on the free agent market?

Given Stevenson’s injury history, it might be a move the Patriots’ front office should consider making.

Browns projected to receive two 7th-round comp picks for exits of Sione Takitaki, Harrison Bryant

The Browns are unofficially projected to receive two late-round comp picks for the departures of two free agents.

The Cleveland Browns are set to see two more late-round picks added to their tally in the 2025 NFL draft after the departure of two free agents. Losing tight end Harrison Bryant and linebacker Sione Takitaki to the Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots respectively, the Browns are slated to receive an additional seventh round pick for each.

While this information is unofficial, the compensatory pick formula has been cracked by Over the Cap, and this information is as close to gold as it gets without being verified and released by the NFL.

Already with eight picks in the 2025 NFL draft in their possession, these two unofficial compensatory picks would push their total to double digits. Seeing how general manager Andrew Berry has used Day 3 picks to land talents like wide receivers Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy, as well as defensive end Za’Darius Smith, these picks are nothing to scoff at.

Report: Patriots agree to terms on deal with former Browns LB Sione Takitaki

Another former Cleveland Brown is New England-bound

The New England Patriots have reportedly agreed to terms on a deal with former Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Per Pelissero, the deal is for two years, $6.5 million with an ability to reach upwards of $10 million in incentives.

Takitaki is a former 2019 third-round draft pick, who spent his previous five seasons in Cleveland. This move was an obvious response to the Patriots losing Mack Wilson to the Arizona Cardinals.

Takitaki can handle the role as an off-ball linebacker with the ability to also contribute on special teams.

He started in seven games and was in on 61 percent of the defensive snaps for the Browns last season, along with contributing in 30 percent of the special teams snaps.

Overall, Takitaki finished the year with 65 tackles, three tackles for a loss and two sacks.

His ability to contribute in multiple roles will come in handy on a Patriots defense that more than held its own in 2023.

LB Sione Takitaki reportedly ditching the Browns for Patriots

Former Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki has agreed to a two-year deal with the New England Patriots.

Former Cleveland Brown linebacker Sione Takitaki has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $6.5 million deal with the New England Patriots. The deal can be worth up to $10 million through incentives. It’s been a heavy day of NFL rumors, and this one hits close to home.

Takitaki has played the last five seasons with the Browns after being drafted 80th overall pick of the third round in the 2019 NFL draft. The linebacker amassed over 260 during his time with the team.

Takitaki was a special team ace for the Browns and their starting SAM linebacker. Takitaki played the game with a rare intensity that helped motivate the team during the years. Takitaki’s most memorable play was his game-sealing interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2021 NFL playoffs. 

Takitaki should see more playing time with the Patriots, as they can better utilize his versatility. Their multiple fronts should complement his skill set as a larger linebacker.

The Browns have been busy on the first day of free agency. The team re-signed veterans Za’Darius Smith and Maurice Hurst II. They also signed linebacker Jordan Hicks to replace Anthony Walker, who signed with the Dolphins. 

Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki gets very fitting sponsorship

Cleveland’s linebacker picked up an interesting sponsorship

Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki and his wife Alyssa have teamed up with a very appropriately named sponsorship. The two are officially promoting Takis as their go-to game-day snack.

Takitaki is a player that is loved by his teammates and has worked his tail off so to see him have a fun play on words sponsorship is cool to see. The Browns have a decision to make on his future with the team as the linebacker has earned a longer-term contract with the team.

Takitaki isn’t a superstar but he is a consistent player who shows up day in and day out and does his job, you can never have enough players who do that. Free agency is next month but it would be shocking to me if the team doesn’t reach a deal with him before then or early on once free agency is officially open after the new league year starts.

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PFF’s 10 highest-graded Browns’ defensive players vs. Texans

It was by far the defenses worst performance of the year

The calling card of the 2023 Cleveland Browns defense was nowhere to be found on Saturday as the team only managed nine quarterback pressures and zero sacks as a team. Linebackers Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Sione Takitaki were the only noticeable players to step up.

It looked like a good chance for the dominant pass rush to make a rookie quarterback look flustered, but it was the opposite that happened.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik had Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s scheme figured out from the start. He knew what Cleveland was going to throw at them and exactly how to beat that and the Browns looked lost on that side of the ball.

The Browns’ defense just looked unprepared and almost like they thought they could just show up and they would dominate. Now they are on their coach looking towards the future with their 2023 season now complete. Here is a look at the top 10 performances from the blowout loss on the defensive side of the ball according to PFF.

5 free agents for Saints fans to scout in Browns-Texans playoff game

Here are five free agents for Saints fans to scout in Saturday afternoon’s Texans-Browns playoff game:

We’re closing in on kickoff of the NFL’s wild-card round, which is a great opportunity for New Orleans Saints fans to scout upcoming free agents while they compete on the biggest stage. And there are plenty of prospects worth watching when the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns match up.

Whether the Saints are looking to get more explosive in the running game or deeper on the defensive side of the ball, here are five players we’re watching closely:

PFF’s 10 highest-graded Browns’ defensive players vs. Broncos

Cleveland’s run defense struggled at times in Denver

At times on Sunday, the Denver Broncos were able to just run the ball at will on the defense of the Cleveland Browns. The defense continued to struggle in the first quarter and Denver’s coach Sean Payton schemed up a great gameplan to attack Cleveland’s run defense.

Jim Schwartz and company have got to figure out why the unit has had so many slow starts and find a way to eliminate them. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was fantastic in this game, his best as a pro, he was all over the field making plays all day. He was playing fast and confident downhill in run defense and even added a sack that happened so fast I almost missed it watching live.

It sounds like Myles Garrett may have avoided major injury after the shoulder injury he sustained on Sunday. The team badly needs Denzel Ward back after an awful showing from Greg Newsome II who played his worst game as a pro.

Here are the top 10 defensive performances in Denver according to PFF.