New England Patriots News

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) won't start training camp on the active/PUP list. According to Mike Reiss of ESPN, Austin Hooper, Vederian Lowe, and Jahlani Tavai are the only three Patriots opening up camp on the active/PUP list. Diggs is a full go to participate in training camp and trending in the right direction to suit up in Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 31-year-old has made incredible progress working his back from a torn ACL in Week 8 of last season. Reiss did add that the active/non-football list can change at any time. Diggs signed a three-year, $69 million contract with New England during the offseason and is expected to be quarterback Drake Maye's No. 1 target when healthy. Diggs is currently RotoBaller's WR48 in current offseason rankings, but expect his fantasy stock to go up with the latest news.

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson signed his four-year rookie deal on Friday. According to Aaron Wilson, Henderson will get a fully guaranteed contract. The second-round rookie has reportedly looked good in practices, which is raising his draft stock. Henderson figures to split up the backfield duties with Rhamondre Stevenson to begin the season. The potential is certainly there for Henderson, but he's unlikely to be a workhorse back with Stevenson healthy. There should still be high-end RB3 value with Henderson likely getting involved in the passing game as well.

According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) is trending towards being cleared to play in Week 1 of the regular season. That would be pretty incredible, considering Diggs tore his ACL in Week 8 of last season. This offseason, Diggs signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the Patriots. When healthy, Diggs is expected to be the primary passing option for quarterback Drake Maye. Despite Breer's belief in Diggs, it's hard to imagine Diggs being 100 percent ready by Week 1. The assumption is that the Pats are going to bring Diggs along slowly. Right now, fantasy managers should view Diggs as a high-end WR3 in most fantasy formats. The first year coming off an ACL injury is usually tough for players.

There are as many as five wide receivers battling for one or two roster spots this summer with the New England Patriots, including Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, according to Patriots.com's Evan Lazar. Bourne could have a leg up, as he has a history with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, posting a career-high 925 scrimmage yards with McDaniels in 2021. However, Bourne has overlapping skill sets with younger receivers on the roster, and the Pats may prefer to go with youth, especially since Bourne carries a $7.7 million salary cap hit. Boutte, who broke out last year for 43 catches, 589 yards and three scores, could earn a roster spot because of his ability to excel deep down the field. He has also developed some nice chemistry with quarterback Drake Maye. Polk and Baker both disappointed in their rookie seasons and will need to show more to get a chance in 2025.

Patriots.com's Evan Lazar writes that along with wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee), New England Patriots pass-catchers DeMario Douglas and third-round rookie Kyle Williams are "locks" to make the 53-man roster. Mack Hollins also has a very strong chance of making the team. Douglas, 24, was the highest-rated Patriots receiver in ESPN's receiver score metric, finishing 25th among qualified pass-catchers. He had 66 catches for 621 yards and three touchdowns on 87 targets in his second NFL season and is set to reprise his role in the slot for the Pats in 2025. A lot of Douglas' early-season fantasy value will depend on whether Diggs is ready to start the regular season or not, and if he is, how effective he'll be. Douglas should see enough volume to be worth a late-round PPR flier in deeper leagues, but the Patriots also have much more competition at the position than they did a year ago.

Despite an eye-raising off-the-field incident this offseason, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) impressed the team at minicamp and gave the impression he might be ahead of schedule in his rehab from an ACL tear suffered last year. The Athletic's Chad Graff writes that Diggs will likely open training camp this month working on the side until he's fully cleared from his injury. It always seemed likeliest that Diggs would open the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which would mean he'd miss the first four games, but that all depends on how quickly he can get onto the field in a full capacity. He's on the wrong side of 30 with his prime behind him, and with Diggs' availability for Week 1 in question, fantasy managers have every right to be thinking about avoiding him entirely in drafts. It's not like Diggs was particularly explosive before his knee injury, either.

The New England Patriots gave running back Rhamondre Stevenson a four-year, $36 million extension last summer, which kicks in for the 2025 season. The Athletic's Chad Graff writes that the extension for Stevenson already looks like a bad move after he had 207 carries for 807 yards (career-low 3.9 yards per carry) last year, although he did score a career-high seven rushing touchdowns. On top of it, the Pats selected rookie TreVeyon Henderson in the second round this year, so New England now have an out to move on from Stevenson if he struggles again in 2025. The biggest drawback to the 27-year-old last year were his seven fumbles. He has nice size and abilities in the passing game, but he won't be guaranteed much under the new coaching staff and will face plenty of competition from Henderson. RotoBaller has Stevenson ranked as the RB35 in fantasy.

New England Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore played in just four games during the 2024 campaign after experiencing blood clots. The former second-round pick out of Alabama in 2021 was entering his first season following a four-year, $83 million contract, and his NFL future was up in the air just eight months ago. However, he has since been cleared to practice, and Chad Graff of The Athletic reports that he had a fantastic spring under new head coach Mike Vrabel. "Barmore was one of the most dominant players at practice," Graff wrote. "In many ways, he looked like his 2023 version, continually pushing the pocket against a reshuffled interior O-line." Barmore had a breakout campaign in 2023, collecting 64 tackles (39 solo), 8.5 sacks, one forced fumble, 8.5 run stuffs, and six pass deflections. With newly signed free agents Milton Williams and Harold Landry III playing next to him on New England's new-look defensive line, Barmore could be freed up for more favorable pass-rushing matchups. The 25-year-old is one to watch for the end-of-season Comeback Player of the Year award.

Per the team, the New England Patriots have waived rookie defensive lineman Wilfried Pene. The 24-year-old signed with the team as an undrafted free agent on May 12 after four collegiate seasons with Virginia Tech. Pene played in 34 games for the Hokies and accrued 73 total tackles, ten for loss, and five quarterback sacks. He started all 13 games for VT last season and will be free to sign with another organization if he goes unclaimed off waivers. Currently, Milton Williams, Khyiris Tonga, and Christian Barmore are slated to start along the Patriots' defensive front.

Per the team, the New England Patriots have signed free agent offensive tackle Yasir Durant to a one-year contract. The terms were not disclosed. The 27-year-old signed as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020 and appeared in 11 games for the team that year (one start). In 2021, KC flipped Durant to New England, and he'd make his way to New Orleans' roster the season after that. However, in that time, he suited up for only eight contests. He took the previous two years off from the NFL and played with the DC Defenders in the United Football League. Durant was named to the All-UFL team in 2025 and won the Championship with DC. It's unclear whether he'll make New England's roster, but it's worth noting he's listed as a guard on their unofficial depth chart despite residing at tackle for the Defenders.

The Athletic's Chad Graff offers skepticism as to whether New England Patriots rookie second-round running back TreVeyon Henderson can be a true bell-cow back in the future, mainly given his injury history. Henderson suffered a broken foot as a sophomore at Ohio State, which required surgery, and then missed more time as a junior with an undisclosed injury. He's also a bit undersized for a RB at 5-foot-10, 202 pounds. But the 22-year-old was a second-rounder because he has blazing speed and big-play ability, which the Patriots have been lacking at the position. Henderson is a true home run threat who can make plays as a receiver and as a runner. His development between the tackles will be something to watch, although most of that work will go to Rhamondre Stevenson in 2025. Henderson will have more value as a high-end RB3 in PPR leagues in his first year in the NFL.

New England Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III is flashing during offseason practices, and Chad Graff of The Athletic identified him as one of the top risers and standouts for the organization so far. "It's not hyperbole to say that no player did more to improve his standing on the depth chart than Efton Chism," Graff said. The undrafted rookie out of Eastern Washington had a dominant final collegiate season, snagging 120 passes for 1,311 yards and 13 touchdowns. Given the lack of wide receiver talent for New England, he has a realistic shot to make the team's 53-man roster, though he'd likely be the No. 2 slot receiver behind DeMario Douglas. Either way, head coach Mike Vrabel calling him a "talented player" and noticing that he has "studied extremely hard" could go a long way toward his chances to earn a roster spot. He is already mixing in with Drake Maye and the first-team offense.

ESPN's Mike Reiss writes that the New England Patriots concluded their mandatory minicamp last week with rookie offensive tackle Will Campbell, who was the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft, working as the top left tackle. "I definitely would say I've gotten more comfortable as the days have gone on, with the playbook and the scheme. It's only going to keep getting better," Campbell said, adding that he plans a brief break to get away before the official start of training camp on July 23. The 21-year-old was a three-year starter at LSU and figures to start right away at left tackle in 2025 to protect the blind side of second-year quarterback Drake Maye. With short arms, Campbell is going to have to overcome that against elite pass-rushers with his technique and athleticism.

New England Patriots beat writer Mike Dussault writes that rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson has been hard to miss during offseason workouts. His explosiveness is noticeable and he's been a consistent factor during team periods while showcasing a versatile skill set that could make him a key contributor in his first year in the NFL. The 5-foot-10 back's pass-protection skills have stood out, with his technique and mindset setting him apart. In addition to his blocking, Henderson has flashed plenty of playmaking ability during OTAs and training camp. The 22-year-old may never be a prototypical workhorse back because of his frame, but his pass-catching chops and big-play ability make him intriguing in fantasy right away in 2025, even with Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson in the RB room. In PPR leagues, he could become an RB2 before the end of his rookie campaign.

According to former New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan, wideout Stefon Diggs (knee) has looked good during OTAs, so much so that he didn't remember the infamous Memorial Day boating video. "I've already forgotten about the boat video. I thought [Diggs] looked great," said Hogan. "It's earlier, I think, than most people expected coming back from an ACL injury. I love the way he's looking running routes and cutting." The veteran will presumably miss time to begin the 2025-26 campaign after tearing his ACL in Week 8 while still a member of the Houston Texans. Although it's still early, it appears Diggs at least has a chance to exceed expectations on a timetable to return, which would undoubtedly be good news for quarterback Drake Maye, who is hoping to improve in his second season in the National Football League.

The New England Patriots officially signed first-round rookie offensive tackle Will Campbell to a fully-guaranteed four-year, $43.3 million contract on Tuesday. This leaves Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter as the only top-10 pick yet to sign his rookie deal. Campbell, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of LSU, will be tasked with protecting quarterback Drake Maye's blindside for the foreseeable future after earning three consecutive All-SEC honors in Baton Rouge. The New England offensive line has struggled for the last few seasons, and Campbell is expected to be a significant building block on the offense under new head coach Mike Vrabel.

New England Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai (calf) will not participate in practice until training camp after suffering a calf injury during Monday's OTA's. The 2019 second-round pick out of Hawai'i by the Detroit Lions led the Patriots in tackles last season (115) and has not missed a game over the last three years. Overall, the 28-year-old has tallied 424 tackles (235 solo), 5.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four interceptions in 95 career games. His injury early in the offseason isn't ideal, but it sounds like he'll have plenty of time to recover before meaningful football is played.

The New England Patriots have no plans to release wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee), according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Diggs showed up for voluntary organized team activities this week in light of recent negative off-the-field publicity, and the Patriots have high hopes for him this year despite the fact he tore his ACL in Week 8 last year with the Houston Texans. After signing a three-year, $69 million deal in free agency, New England envisions the 31-year-old veteran being the WR1 for second-year quarterback Drake Maye when he's fully healthy. Diggs has been practicing without a brace this offseason and appears to be on track in his recovery from a torn ACL. On the wrong side and coming off major knee surgery, Diggs probably won't be all that explosive deep down the field with the Pats, but he could still be valuable as an every-week fantasy starter on volume as Maye's go-to aerial target.

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) is present for voluntary organized team activities on Monday, according to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. There were some rumors over the weekend that the Patriots have been considering cutting Diggs because of some off-field issues, but that's all just speculation. On top of it, the 31-year-old veteran is recovering from a torn right ACL that he suffered on Oct. 27 of last year. There's a chance that Diggs isn't ready to go for the start of his first season in New England, but he was practicing without a brace on his surgically repaired knee last week at OTAs. Diggs' fantasy football situation is volatile right now, to put it mildly, as he could begin training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform if he's still on the team by then. Eventually, he's expected to be the WR1 for second-year quarterback Drake Maye if he remains on the team.

According to Scott Zolak of 98.5 The Sports Hub, a Boston radio station, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (knee) may not be a lock to remain on the roster. "I came to this show yesterday with the opinion -- not opinion, but the knowledge that it is on the table," Zolak stated during a recent show regarding the possibility of Diggs getting released. "That it is being thought of. And it's not just the boat. There are some other things that I've heard that put some things in question." The 31-year-old agreed to a three-year, $69 million contract in March after amassing 46 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns with the Texans in 2024-25. Unfortunately, his first season in Houston was cut short after he tore his ACL in the Week 8 win over the Indianapolis Colts. It's important for fantasy managers to remember that things might not be set in stone, so there is no reason to sound the alarm. If Diggs continues making progress regarding his rehab efforts, there's hope he'll be on the field by Week 4. His presence would undoubtedly be good for second-year signal-caller Drake Maye. But if Diggs gets his walking papers, players like Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, Kyle Williams, and DeMario Douglas will have a better chance to climb the depth chart.