JAHLANI TAVAI NEWS

All Access: Jets Week, Jahlani Tavai's Journey to the NFL, Josh Uche 1-on-1 On this edition of Patriots All Access presented by GEICO, it's JETS week, and Bill Belichick breaks down the Jets since the Patriots last s...

NOVEMBER 19, 2022 • PATRIOTS.COM

Jahlani Tavai 11/14: "Our mentality has got to be a winning mentality" Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai addresses the media on Monday, November 14, 2022.

NOVEMBER 14, 2022 • PATRIOTS.COM

Jahlani Tavai takes down Trubisky on third down New England Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai takes down Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky on third down.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 • PATRIOTS.COM

Returns to practice Monday Tavai (leg) returned to practice Monday, Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports.

Impact Tavai suffered a right leg injury during Thursday's practice, but he appears to have already moved past the issue and has resumed practicing. After signing with the Patriots last October, Tavai played at least 10 special-teams snaps in 12 of his 13 appearances with New England, but he served a minor defensive role with just 56 defensive snaps during that span.

AUGUST 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Goes down with injury Tavai suffered what appears to be a lower right leg injury during the Patriots' practice Thursday, Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston reports.

Impact Tavai was down on New England's practice field for a few minutes before having to be helped to the sidelines Thursday, but the exact severity of his injury is still unclear. The 25-year-old was also spotted wearing a compression sleeve on his right leg and walking with a noticeable limp while observing the team's practice Friday, according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. After signing with the Patriots last October, Tavai played at least 10 special-teams snaps in 12 of 13 games last season, but he served an overall minor defensive role with 14 total tackles during this span.

AUGUST 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Patriots training camp report: Linebacker Jahlani Tavai goes down - The Boston Globe Tavai was injured on the final rep of 11-on-11 work, but it was unclear what happened to him.

AUGUST 4, 2022 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM

Jahlani Tavai employs hit in big way vs. Marquez Stevenson Jahlani Tavai employs hit stick in big way vs. Marquez Stevenson.

DECEMBER 26, 2021 • PATRIOTS.COM

Jahlani Tavai 10/15: "This was the place to call home next" Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai addresses the media on Friday, October 15, 2021.

OCTOBER 15, 2021 • PATRIOTS.COM

Time up in Detroit The Lions waived Tavai on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Impact Detroit attempted to trade Tavai before cutting him but could not finalize a deal. A 2019 second-round pick, Tavai has struggled in pass coverage across two seasons in Detroit, and an underwhelming preseason appears to have represented his final chance to stick with the team. Tavai could get another opportunity in the league, but his chances of attaining IDP fantasy relevance are looking increasingly slim.

AUGUST 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Lions will use closing preseason game to finalize roster

Lions coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes will be using the team’s final preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on Friday night to make their last decisions o...

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Steelers QB Roethlisberger shines in preseason debut

Ben Roethlisberger turned in a perfect passer rating of 158.3 and led the Steelers’ first-team offense to a pair of touchdowns as Pittsburgh defeated the Detroit Lions 26-20

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Why Detroit Lions' Jahlani Tavai is 'in a really good position' to make 53-man roster Jahlani Tavai is competing for one or two open backup jobs at inside LB behind starters Alex Anzalone and Jamie Collins, and rookie Derrick...

AUGUST 17, 2021 • FREEP.COM

Struggles continue After continuing to struggle in pass coverage, Tavai is not a lock to make the roster, Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic reports.

Impact There was hope the 2019 second-round pick might improve in pass coverage under a new coaching staff after dropping weight this offseason, but that doesn't seem to be the case if last weekend's preseason opener means anything. It didn't help that fourth-round rookie Derrick Barnes was impressive in limited action. In any case, with Alex Anzalone locked into the starting job at inside linebacker next to Jamie Collins, Tavai might not get anywhere close to the 600-plus defensive snaps he's handled the previous two seasons if he remains with Detroit in 2021.

AUGUST 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Lions risers and fallers: Julian Okwara, Derrick Barnes up; Jahlani Tavai down A look at who stood out, for good and bad reasons, in the Lions' preseason loss to the Bills on Friday night.

AUGUST 15, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Loses significant weight Tavai lost significant weight this offseason at the request of the Lions' new coaching staff, John Maakaron of Sports Illustrated reports.

Impact Tavai reported to offseason practices 17 pounds lighter than his playing weight from 2020. This should help alleviate some of the strugglesin pass coverage he's experienced since being drafted in the second round back in 2019. With a solid training camp, Tavai could ultimately carve out a starting inside linebacker role next to Jamie Collins.

JUNE 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Lions' Aaron Glenn: Jahlani Tavai has lost 17 pounds, 'catching my eye' Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn talks about the front seven, May 27, 2021.

MAY 27, 2021 • FREEP.COM

THE DAILY DRIVE: Why the Detroit Lions are 'really impressed' with third-year LB Jahlani Tavai Why the Detroit Lions are 'really impressed' with third-year LB Jahlani Tavai

MAY 21, 2021 • DETROITLIONS.COM

Lions still have high hopes for Tavai and Vaitai; Pleasant expects playmaking Detroit linebackers coach Mark DeLeone is excited about working with holdover Jahlani Tavai.

MAY 21, 2021 • DETROITNEWS.COM

Why the Detroit Lions are 'really impressed' with third-year LB Jahlani Tavai Jahlani Tavai earned a subpar coverage grade from Pro Football Focus in 2020, when he played as a rotational linebacker for the Detroit Lion...

MAY 21, 2021 • FREEP.COM

Exposed in expanded role Tavai produced 58 tackles and two forced fumbles over 16 games in 2020.

Impact Despite staying relatively healthy most of the year, Tavai massively failed to take advantage of the opportunity left behind by Jarrad Davis, a 2018 first-round pick whose passing-game limitations rendered him a role player in 2020. Tavai, a 2019 second-rounder (but arguable reach), has all but certainly proved to be even less effective in pass coverage while given every chance to assert himself as Detroit's middle linebacker of the future this season. While there's a chance that the sinking ship that was Detroit's defense in 2020 -- the Lions gave up franchise-worst marks in points (519) and yards allowed (6,978) -- simply brought Tavai down with it, the apparent lack of speed in the Hawaii product harbors concern that Tavai might not be an every-down linebacker in the NFL.

JANUARY 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Lions and makeshift coaching staff struggle against Bucs

When a team loses 47-7, it is difficult to pick out one play that could have changed things

DECEMBER 26, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Detroit Lions: Is Jahlani Tavai another wasted second-round pick? Is Detroit Lions linebacker Jahlani Tavai the next Teez Tabor? When Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn used the 43 pick in the second r...

NOVEMBER 14, 2020 • DETROITJOCKCITY.COM

Camp Spotlight: Linebacker Jahlani Tavai Tim Twentyman tracks the performance of linebacker Jahlani Tavai during Day 4 of open training camp practice.

AUGUST 21, 2020 • DETROITLIONS.COM

Set for sophomore season Tavai (shoulder) could push Jarrad Davis for reps at middle linebacker in training camp, Tim Twentyman of the Lions official site reports.

Impact Tavai had a solid rookie campaign with 58 total tackles, two sacks, one interception and one forced fumble, though he missed the season finale after picking up a shoulder injury. The Lions declined Davis' fifth-year option for 2021 this spring, so Tavai could make a push for the starting job with a strong showing in camp.

JUNE 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Hockenson, Tavai highlight Detroit's draft haul

Hockenson, Tavai highlight Detroit's draft haul

APRIL 28, 2019