Patriots' drama with Gabe Jacas has officially reached crisis status

The New England Patriots hoped rookie second-round pick Gabe Jacas would make an immediate impact.

Fast forward to today, and the rookie out of Illinois hasn't signed his contract or even pulled up to the facility. With training camp almost underway, Jacas has missed crucial preparation time, not only on the field but also in terms of learning the defense and whatnot. That's why NFL insider Albert Breer believes he's dangerously close to a redshirt rookie season in Foxborough. 

Gabe Jacas might redshirt his rookie season

"Rookies generally do show up when they're not signed in the spring. That's normal -- and he didn't do that. When you aren't signed and it's the start of training camp, you don't show up," Breer said on NBC Sports Boston's "Early Edition." "This moves to another stage, and I think you're inching closer now to the idea that maybe this winds up being a redshirt year for him."

Reportedly, the Patriots didn't give Jacas a participation agreement, which is used to protect unsigned rookies from injuries while practicing. Jacas has a history of injuries, but the Patriots were well aware of that when they traded three draft picks to move up in the second round and take him.

A star at Illinois, Jacas left college with 27 career sacks, including a conference-leading 11 in his final year. And as much as contract disputes are becoming more common every year, something seems fishy about this situation. If they knew about his injury and the procedure he'd undergo after the NFL Draft, why not give him a participation agreement? The clock is ticking, and the Patriots' pass-rushing unit was already thin without him.