New England Patriots veteran linebacker Sione Takitaki provides crucial injury update
Since the start of the voluntary offseason program, Sione Takitaki has not been seen participating with his fellow teammates on the field. However, the veteran linebacker has been seen numerous times on the sidelines throughout practice. And that was exactly the case on Monday during the Patriots first day of Mandatory Minicamp. With the players […]
Since the start of the voluntary offseason program, Sione Takitaki has not been seen participating with his fellow teammates on the field. However, the veteran linebacker has been seen numerous times on the sidelines throughout practice.
And that was exactly the case on Monday during the Patriots first day of Mandatory Minicamp.
With the players set to have a long break prior to the start of training camp, Takitaki took a moment to speak exclusively with A to Z Sports about his injury status and when he is expecting to return to on-field play.
"It's something I've been dealing with since last year. Something that we're not worried about, but it's just something we want to nip in the bud before training camp," Takitaki said on Tuesday. "So I haven't been skipping a beat. I've been working out hard. Taking all the mental reps I can. And it's just again, something we're not worried about, but it's awesome to have the Patriots just making sure that I can knock it out as training camp is coming."
So, when the first day of training camp is here, Takitaki has no doubt that he will be on the field with the rest of the team.
"I'll be out there at training camp," he added. "Won't miss a day."
More about Sione Takitaki
The Patriots brought in Takitaki back in March after losing veteran linebacker Mack Wilson to the Arizona Cardinals. He signed a 2-year, $6.5 million deal worth up to $10.3 million.
Takitaki spent the first five years of his career with the Cleveland Browns, and after the initial signing, A to Z Sports' Brandon Little provided some additional context on the linebacker.
"Takitaki was a fan favorite in Cleveland that played out two contracts. He is best suited as a run-stopping strong-side linebacker, but he has proven his versatility by stepping in for Anthony Walker Jr. over the past two seasons in the middle of the defense. He is known for his run support first, though a 50-yard interception returned for a touchdown may be the best memory of him in Cleveland. After being knocked for character concerns coming out of BYU, Takitaki was well-accepted as a teammate and in the Cleveland area. There won’t be a bad thing said about him from Cleveland’s way and he was a player that many expected back," Little wrote.
Last season, he finished with 66 tackles, two sacks and one interception across 15 games.
