Week 15 saw the end of the New England Patriots' 10-game winning streak with a disappointing loss to the Buffalo Bills. As unfortunate as the defeat was, though, the Patriots don't have time to focus on it with Week 16 here. The only thing that matters now is getting healthy for a potentially deep playoff run.
One thing of note from Week 15 was the health of starting linebacker Robert Spillane. Spillane was one of many free agent additions to the team and has had a solid first year with the team, posting 97 tackles, one sack, and two interceptions. Going into the game, Spillane was dealing with a foot injury, and while he was active, he didn't end up registering a single snap.
Looking ahead, things don't look much better for Spillane's future this season, if his latest comments are to go by.
Robert Spillane Hints That His 2025 Season Is Over
According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, Spillane "stayed behind with his left foot in a boot" on his injured foot as his teammates hit the practice field. However, what the veteran LB said next is what matters, as he reportedly told fellow LB Jahlani Tavai, "Lead them!"
With Spillane saying this, it's unlikely that he expects to be back in the near future. Without Spillane, the defense would be down another starter, with Milton Williams still on injured reserve, as well as the likes of Marcellas Dial Jr. and Alex Austin. No matter how long it lasts, Spillane's absence is a huge loss for the Patriots' defense, given how the defense fared against the Bills.
Recently, the Patriots made some roster moves that signal they also expect Spillane to be sidelined, such as signing LB Amari Gainer to the practice squad on Thursday. Although the former North Carolina Tar Heel has mostly played special teams in his NFL career, the fact that he played all 17 games for the Las Vegas Raiders last season gives him valuable experience.
Should Spillane miss extended time, one name to keep an eye on is linebacker Jack Gibbens. During Week 15, Gibbens played all snaps on defense with Spillane not playing, racking up nine total tackles and a sack.
The Patriots will look to rebound from the Bills' loss in Week 16 when they travel to take on the Baltimore Ravens. It's a game New England can win, but that will be easier said than done without a key defender like Spillane in the fold.
Hopefully, the next updates on Spillane are more positive. He's on the books for a $12.5 million cap hit in 2026 and $13 million in 2027, per Spotrac, and Patriots fans would love nothing more than for him to be healthy for the remainder of his deal.