Harold Landry III is starting training camp on the PUP list, and that's a problem the Patriots can't ignore. The OLB room was already thin coming into the offseason—this isn't the kind of depth chart luxury that allows you to weather injuries gracefully.
Here's what matters: Landry was supposed to be a rotational piece on the edge, someone who could contribute against the pass in Mike Vrabel's scheme. Instead, he's starting camp unavailable. We don't know the specifics yet—whether it's a procedural precaution or something more serious—but the timing is never great. You want your edge rushers ramping up in August, not rehabbing.
The Patriots will have to lean on whoever else is available in that room to set the tone early. The depth chart needs bodies ready to compete, and losing snaps to the PUP list means Landry isn't one of them right now. Vrabel and Eliot Wolf built this roster with specific positional needs in mind. A stalled edge rusher changes the math on how much you can ask from everyone else.
We should get clarity soon on the timeline for Landry's return. If it's a few weeks, the Patriots survive. If it stretches longer, they might need to get creative with their edge rotation. Either way, it's a reminder that August plans rarely survive first contact with reality.