Patriots rival in a pinch after 2-time Super Bowl champ suddenly retires.
Star linebacker Shaquil Barrett surprised the NFL world by abruptly announcing his retirement days before he was set to report for training camp for the Miami Dolphins.
The 31-year-old pass rusher is only months removed from signing a one-year deal with the Dolphins in free agency. But earlier this week, Barrett took to social media to say that he’s walking away from the game to spend more time with his family.
“It’s time for me to hang it up,” Barrett wrote. “It’s been a great ride and I appreciate everything that came with it over the years. I’m ready to shift my full focus to my wife and kids and helping them realize their dreams and catch em.”
The two-time Super Bowl champion acknowledged that the news was sudden. However, he wrote that he’d been considering this move for some time and now wants to devote his full attention to raising his family.
“Anyone who caught their dreams before know the work, time and consistency required to reach them. I’m ready to start building them skills up in my kids which will take 100% commitment,” Barrett wrote. “(I know) to some it’ll be a surprise but I’ve been thinking about this for a while and the decision has never been more clear then it is now.”
Barrett played nine total seasons in the NFL, starting out as an undrafted free agent before making an impact with the Denver Broncos, winning a Super Bowl in 2015.
Patriots place Antonio Gibson on non-football injury list, four vets on physically unable to perform.
The first practice of training camp arrives Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET.
Five veterans will start on the sidelines as training camp starts in Foxborough.
The New England Patriots moved running back Antonio Gibson to the non-football injury list on Tuesday, per the NFL transaction wire, while wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, offensive linemen Cole Strange and Jake Andrews as well as linebacker Sione Takitaki have been moved to the physically unable to perform list.
Each continues to count as active while awaiting clearance and can begin practicing at any point in the preseason.
Gibson, 26, arrived on a three-year contract in March after beginning his NFL run with the Washington Commanders. Selected in the third round of the 2021 draft, the former wideout by way of East Central Community College and the University of Memphis has started 31 of his 62 career appearances. He stands with 2,643 rushing yards, 1,283 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns across 814 offensive touches.
Bourne, 28, saw his 2023 campaign end on injured reserve in October due to a torn ACL. He had paced the Patriots with 55 targets, 37 catches, 406 yards and four touchdowns prior to then. The 2017 undrafted free agent out of Eastern Washington went on to sign a three-year contract extension leading up to the league’s legal tampering period.
Strange, 25, went to injured reserve after sustaining a torn patellar tendon last December. Since going No. 29 overall in the 2022 NFL draft, the left guard out of Chattanooga has started all 29 of his appearances. “He’s been in here everyday, I don’t even think he really took a break,” Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said Tuesday. “He’s trying to get out there on the field, and I appreciate it. I’m not exactly sure what that looks like, but we’ll see how he progresses going forward.”
Andrews, 24, saw action in 16 games as a rookie along New England’s interior offensive line. The Troy product, chosen in the fourth round at No. 107 overall, made one start at left guard. He saw a total of 70 snaps on offense and 50 snaps on special teams by campaign’s end.
Takitaki, 29, agreed to terms on a two-year deal in free agency. The former BYU linebacker spent his initial five NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns after being taken in the third round of the 2019 class. Through 72 games and 32 starts, he has tallied 268 tackles to go with four sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two interceptions and one touchdown return.
The Patriots previously placed running back Terrell Jennings and linebacker Jontrey Hunter on the PUP list and the NFI list, respectively, as rookies reported for training camp last weekend. The latter undrafted free agent has since been waived from the 90-man roster.
The opening practice on the Gillette Stadium backfields is set for 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
