Patriots expected to get leading tackler back against Chargers

New England Patriots

“It was always the goal to be ready for week one of the playoffs.”

FOXBOROUGH — Reinforcements continue to be on the way for New England’s defense.

As New England trudges through an illness sweeping through its locker room, the Patriots are slated to get their leading tackler back into the fold in linebacker Robert Spillane. 

Speaking on Wednesday ahead of practice, the 30-year-old linebacker acknowledged that he is in line to play on Sunday against the Chargers. 

“I’m feeling great,” Spillane said. “To be a part of this moment is very special to me, and I don’t take it lightly or for granted.”

Spillane had missed the final four games of the 2025 regular season due to a foot injury. While New England went 3-1 over that stretch, his presence in the middle of the Patriots’ defense was missed. 

One of New England’s top free-agent pickups, Spillane finished as the team’s leading tackler with 97 across 13 games while also recording two interceptions, a sack, and batting down five passes. 

Despite sitting out the final month of action, Spillane stressed that his time on the shelf was mapped out in a way to open the door for his return in January. 

“No doubt,” Spillane said of his recovery timeline. “It was always the goal to be ready for week one of the playoffs.”

A healthy Spillane bodes well for a Patriots defense that was anchored by a stout run defense over the first few months of the season.

With Milton Williams clogging up running lanes at the line of scrimmage and Spillane swarming ball carriers, an opposing running back didn’t gain 50 or more rushing yards against New England until Week 10 of the regular season. 

Spillane stands as the latest key return to New England’s defense, with Williams — who missed five games with an ankle injury — cleared for action and returning to the gridiron in Week 18 against Miami.

While a healthy Milliams and Spillane will bolster New England’s run defense, the Patriots also need to exploit the Chargers’ porous offensive line and put QB Justin Herbert under duress. 

Those efforts should also be bolstered by the return of veteran edge rusher Harold Landry — who returned to practice on Wednesday after missing the last two weeks due to a knee injury. 

The former BC product was a force to open the 2025 season, as he recorded 5.5 sacks over his first seven games of the year. But a nagging knee injury sapped his effectiveness down the stretch, as he only recorded 3.0 sacks over his last eight games before landing on the shelf. 

Landry, Williams, and edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson should be primed for big games against the Chargers, who gave up 54 sacks in 2025. 

If New England wants to advance to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, a young roster is going to need to exploit Los Angeles’ weaknesses and give Drake Maye and the Patriots’ offense as many opportunities as possible to pile up points.

“Trust yourselves,” Spillane said of the message echoed by team’s veterans ahead of Sunday’s game. “You put in the work your whole life for these moments. They are fleeting moments, and you never know when you’re going to be back. Given an opportunity like this, go out there, trust yourself, have fun and do what you’ve been doing all year.”

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.