Overview

• Tavai remains on injured reserve but returned to practice Wednesday, starting the team’s 21-day window to activate him or keep him on season-ending IR.
• He is listed as questionable for Week 5 against the Bills, with a final call expected after the staff evaluates his Saturday morning response.
• Mike Vrabel praised Tavai’s rehab work and versatility, noting his readiness to contribute on defense and special teams if activated.
• An activation would bolster New England’s inside-linebacker group, where Robert Spillane leads the unit and Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, and Marte Mapu have rotated snaps.
• The Patriots also listed Jared Wilson, Milton Williams, and K’Lavon Chaisson as questionable, and Vrabel said the plan is for Wilson to return to the starting lineup Sunday.