Tavai went down during the team’s OTA on Monday.
New England Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai is expected to be sidelined until at least the start of training camp in late July with a calf injury, according to ESPN.
Tavai went down away from the ball during an 11-on-11 period in Monday’s voluntary organized team activities and stayed down for an extended period of time. Teammates kneeled around him before Jabrill Peppers and Mike Onwenu eventually helped him off the field as Tavai could put little weight on his calf. He did not return.
Throughout OTAs, Tavai has maintained a spot on the Patriots top defensive unit often aligning next to free agent addition Robert Spillane, who has taken over as the unit’s signal caller. The 28-year old Tavai wore the green dot at times last year after the loss of Ja’Whaun Bentley due to injury and matched his career-high with 16 starts.
With Tavai now sidelined, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Monty Rice and Cam Riley remain at the linebacker position next to Spillane. After New England matched his two-year, $13.5 million offer sheet in free agent, Elliss is projected to take on more responsibilities in place of Tavai.
Third-year defender Marte Mapu has also aligned along the second level during OTAs despite primarily playing safety early in his career.
New England will finish OTAs this week before holding mandatory minicamp next week beginning Monday, June 9.