What happened: New England Patriots tight end Julian Hill suffered a knee injury in practice that will keep him out for the remainder of the season. The team has placed him on injured reserve.

Why it matters: The injury thins New England's tight end depth before the 2026 campaign begins. Losing a full year of practice and game reps stalls Hill's development and forces the Patriots to lean on the rest of their tight end room.

What to watch: Watch how the Patriots reshape their tight end depth chart and whether they add a replacement ahead of training camp.