Mike Vrabel 'cautiously optimistic' about rookie Gabe Jacas' contract

FOXBOROUGH, Mass — As the New England Patriots are set to begin training camp, one troubling storyline has been the situation surrounding rookie edge rusher Gabe Jacas.

After Jacas appeared at rookie minicamp but did not participate, he has not been in attendance throughout the spring and early summer, specifically missing mandatory minicamp. And through all of this, he has not yet signed his rookie deal.

So, ahead of training camp, head coach Mike Vrabel addressed this while also explaining why he’s “cautiously optimistic.”

“We’re continuing to work through the contract,” Vrabel said. “I think those have been positive between the club and his representatives. Hopefully, we’ll get him in here sooner rather than later. I’m not going to put a timeline on it or a timeframe, but I’ve spoken to Gabe personally. Excited to get him in when he’s under contract.”

He was asked what the exact hold-up is, but declined to go into much detail.

“Every contract is unique, every contract is different, and it’ll get resolved. I’m positive that it will,” said Vrabel.

But that’s not all there is to worry about. Jacas also dealt with a hamstring issue during the pre-draft process and then had a clean-up procedure on his knee, so his absence is calling into question whether he’ll even be ready to take the field when it’s all figured out.

“We’re not going to go into the injuries,” Vrabel said. “I’ve mentioned that Gabe had a surgery to take care of some things, and that’s where we’re at. We’re going to evaluate him when he gets here, and I know that Jim [Whalen] and Frank [Piraino] have been in contact with him throughout the summer.”

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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Mike Vrabel ‘cautiously optimistic’ about rookie Gabe Jacas’ contract