Free agent signing among 5 Patriots placed on reserve lists ahead of camp
Running back Antonio Gibson is among the five players placed on reserve lists as the Patriots get ready to start 2024 training camp.
Ahead of their first training camp practice of 2024, the Patriots placed five players on reserve lists. This comes as veteran players reported to Gillette Stadium for the official start of camp on Tuesday.
Of those five, running back Antonio Gibson was the lone player placed on the non-football injury (NFI) list, meaning he is dealing with some sort of issue not related to football. Gibson can’t practice until he’s activated from NFI, and if he isn’t activated by final roster cuts he’d have to miss at least the first four games of the regular season before being activated.
Gibson, 26, was one of the Patriots’ first free agent signings this past spring when he agreed to a three-year, $11.3 million dollar contract. The versatile back was expected to split time with Rhamondre Stevenson this season.
While this placement is a long way from guaranteeing Gibson misses time in the regular season, the Patriots’ running back depth was already thin. As long as he’s out there will be more reps available for the players competing for the third running back spot, which suddenly holds a little more weight.
In addition to Gibson, the Patriots placed four other players on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. This list is for players dealing with football-related injuries, but the activation rules are the same as they are for NFI.
Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, offensive linemen Cole Strange and Jake Andrews, and linebacker Sione Takitaki are the four players who were placed on PUP. None of those placements come as a surprise – Bourne and Strange are both working their way back from season-ending injuries last year, while Andrews and Takitaki missed time in the spring.
Asked for an update on Bourne during his press conference on Tuesday, head coach Jerod Mayo told reporters that “he’s been progressing, and we’ll see what it looks like” when he gets on the field for the first time. Meanwhile, Strange is reportedly expected to miss the start of the regular season.
These five players join rookie running back Terrell Jennings, who was placed on PUP when rookies reported on Thursday. Rookie linebacker Jontrey Hunter was also placed on NFI but was later released, opening up a roster spot.
