Awful, Already: Patriots Move LB to Season-Ending IR
FOXBORO — New England Patriots linebacker Raekwon McMillan’s 2023 season has unfortunately come to an end before it began.
The Pats confirmed on Thursday that they have placed McMillan on injured reserve, effectively ending his season in New England. Per The Athletic, McMillan’s designation is the result of a suffering a partially-torn Achilles’ tendon during on OTA workout.
The 6-2, 242-pounder was a second-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins out of Ohio State in 2017. He spent two seasons in Miami, before joining the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020. During that time, he played 45 games, making 32 starts and compiling 204 total tackles and nine tackles for loss. He first signed with New England as a free agent in 2021, and recently agreed to a contract extension with the Pats in March, keeping him in Foxboro for 2023.
McMillan’s extensive injury history sadly overshadows his prowess on the field. He suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during a Patriots’ training camp practice in early August 2021, forcing him to miss the entirety of the season. He had also suffered a similar injury during training camp as a rookie, having torn his right ACL as a member of the Dolphins in their 2017 preseason opener.
In spite of his injury history, McMillan has made a positive impression on the Patriots coaching staff, as well as his teammates, in his brief tenure in New England. When healthy, he was a solid practice performer; routinely applying pressure to the quarterback and providing stout coverage in his assignments. Therefore, it came as little surprise when the Pats chose to retain McMillan’s services by agreeing to a one-year extension through the 2022 season, and again for 2023.
In his first full — and healthy— season in New England, McMillan played 16 games, taking 250 defensive snaps and 277 on special teams. McMillan registered 32 tackles with one sack and two quarterback pressures.
In Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals, he earned his first career touchdown by recovering a fumble by wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and returning it 23-yards for the score.
One of the Pats biggest defensive struggles in 2022 was a lack of speed in executing their coverage assignments. While they showed some improvement from their 2021 performance, McMillan’s combination of size and speed was likely help to retain and enhance some much needed athleticism within the Pats’ defense. McMillan was expected to compete for a roster spot in 2023 by performing well during OTAs, minicamp and training camp.
New England’s depth chart at the position also includes starters Matthew Judon, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Josh Uche, as well as reserves Anfernee Jennings, Mack Wilson and rookie Marte Mapu.
McMillan would only be eligible to play if he is released by the team with an injury designation. Given the nature of his injury, however, that seems to be a remote possibility at best.
To say the least, it's been a rough week in Foxboro.
Following an NFL-mandated hiatus for OTAs on both Thursday (5/25) and Tuesday (5/30) due to a violation of offseason training regulations, the Patriots will return to the practice fields adjacent to Gillette Stadium on Wednesday.
McMillan’s roster spot will be occupied by veteran tight end Anthony Firkser, whose signing was made official by the team on Thursday evening.
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