BUFFALO — The Patriots activated linebacker Jahlani Tavai from injured reserve Saturday, clearing a path for him to make his regular-season debut Sunday night against the Bills.
Tavai, who sustained a calf injury in June, originally began training camp on the physically unable to perform list, but practiced briefly at the start of camp before re-aggravating the injury. He did not play in the preseason, but returned to the practice field this past week. On Friday, head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged Tavai for having “worked really hard” through the rehab process in hopes of getting back into game shape as quickly as possible.
“We’ve tried to maximize the time away from the actual practice, working with our training staff and working with our strength coaches, and [he] was ready to go,” Vrabel said. “It’s exciting to see him get out there and get to practice [on] defense and special teams and try to see where he’s at.”
The 29-year-old, in his fifth season with the Patriots, has played in 64 regular-season games with 44 starts, and had a career-high 115 combined tackles last season.
When asked what he liked about the 6-foot-2-inch, 255-pounder, Vrabel was quick to answer.
“Versatility. I think he plays a good technique. I think he can play multiple spots,” Vrabel said Friday. “He’s a very instinctive player. He sees the field. I think he understands different concepts. A veteran that’s played in multiple spots, so there’s versatility there. I like his fundamentals. He’s done a lot of different things in other places that he’s been, and here.”
His return brings another layer of depth to the linebacker position for New England, which will certainly be a key Sunday night as the Patriots try to slow James Cook and the Bills’ running game. He figures to be part of a rotation that works inside next to Robert Spillane, a group that includes Jack Gibbens, Christian Elliss, and Marte Mapu.
“I don’t mind rotating. I think that everybody’s just trying to help us out,” Vrabel said when asked about the rotation next to Spillane. “We’ve got a lot of guys that play special teams. We’ve got guys that play, rotating in there on defense. We play a lot of different skilled players offensively. So, I think that that can be a good balance.”
The Patriots downgraded edge defender K’Lavon Chaisson to out for Sunday’s game.
The 6-3, 255-pounder, who popped up on the injury report on Wednesday with a knee issue, was exclusive over the course of the week. A former first-round pick of the Jaguars in 2020, Chaisson is second on the team in sacks (2.5) through the first four games of the season, all while playing 68 percent of the defensive snaps. He’s also registered nine tackles and five quarterback hits.
Without the 26-year-old Chaisson, the Patriots will likely lean on Anfernee Jennings and Keion White against the Bills, with Jennings serving as an early-down presence and White rotating in on third down and other passing situations. Tavai could also see spot duty on the outside in his first game back from IR, as he’s played the position in the past.
Tight end Austin Hooper has been fined $11,593 for a face mask infraction last week against the Panthers. The penalty happened at the 7:51 mark of the second quarter. It’s just the second fine for the Patriots this season … Buffalo signed linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. Ciarlo, one of the darlings of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” this summer, is a 6-2, 225-pounder who also figures to get special teams reps … In addition, the Bills placed cornerback Dorian Strong on injured reserve, and elevated defensive tackles Zion Logue and Phidarian Mathis from the practice squad. Logue has played in two games this season, while Mathis is active for his first game as a Bill.
Christopher rate can be reached at christopher.rate@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social.
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