What happened: Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said Thursday he is hoping to have second-round pick Gabe Jacas signed "sooner than later," describing the contract talks as productive. Jacas remains unsigned as the Patriots opened training camp this week.

Why it matters: An unsigned rookie can't take practice reps, so every day without a deal costs Jacas time to learn the defense before the preseason. Vrabel's comments frame the holdout as a negotiation still in progress rather than a standoff.

What to watch: Watch for a signing before Jacas can join practice, with the preseason opener the next hard deadline.