Patriots' Jaylinn Hawkins: Impresses in starting role
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Hawkins tallied 71 total tackles (45 solo), including 1.5 sacks, six passes defensed, including four interceptions, and one forced fumble across 15 regular-season games in 2025.
The 28-year-old started all 15 games in which he appeared and logged 836 defensive snaps this season, the second-highest total of his career. In his second year with the Patriots, Hawkins proved to be an integral part of the secondary, leading the team in interceptions and ranking fourth in passes defensed. Set to become an unrestricted free agent following New England's 2025 playoff run, Hawkins will likely draw interest from teams in need of a starting safety ahead of the 2026 season.
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Patriots' Jaylinn Hawkins: Causes crucial fumble vs. Baltimore
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Hawkins logged seven tackles (four solo), one quarterback hit and one forced fumble during the Patriots' 28-24 win over the Ravens on Sunday.
Hawkins was one of three New England defenders to play all 55 defensive snaps Sunday, and he finished tied with Christian Gonzalez as the team's third-leading tackler behind Jack Gibbens (10) and Carlton Davis (eight). Hawkins' biggest play of the game came late in the first quarter, when he punched the ball out of Derrick Henry's arms to give the Patriots the ball near midfield, and the offense was able to convert the turnover into a one-yard touchdown pass from Drake Maye to Hunter Henry 10 plays later. Hawkins has played every single defensive snap in seven of his last eight games and is up to 69 tackles (43 solo), including 1.5 sacks, four pass defenses (two interceptions), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery across 13 regular-season games.
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Patriots' Jaylinn Hawkins: Racks up 11 stops Sunday
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Hawkins totaled 11 tackles (four solo) and a defensed pass in Sunday's Week 15 loss to Buffalo.
Hawkins led New England in tackles in the losing effort. In doing so, he set a season-high mark and reached double digits in stops for the first time this year. Hawkins is up to 62 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, along with four defensed passes (including two interceptions) through 12 games in his second campaign with the Patriots.
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Patriots' Jaylinn Hawkins: Full practice Tuesday
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Hawkins (shoulder) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice.
Hawkins was estimated as limited on Monday's practice report, but he's ready to roll for Thursday night's game against the Jets. Hawkins has picked up 38 tackles (28 solo), including 1.5 sacks, two interceptions and one fumble recovery across eight starts this season.
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Patriots' Jaylinn Hawkins: Questionable to face Titans
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Head coach Mike Vrabel said Friday that Hawkins (hamstring) will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Titans.
Hawkins is hoping to avoid a second consecutive absence Sunday. Kyle Dugger would continue to fill in at strong safety if Hawkins sits out.
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Patriots' Jaylinn Hawkins: Good to go against Buffalo
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Hawkins (hamstring) was a full participant in Friday's practice and does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Bills.
Hawkins steadily increased his practice participation last week while working through a hamstring injury, and the 2020 fourth-rounder has been cleared to play in Sunday's AFC East clash. Hawkins has 20 tackles (16 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and one interception through the first four games of the regular season.
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Patriots' Jaylinn Hawkins: Sits out practice
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Hawkins (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday.
Hawkins played just 57 percent of defensive snaps Week 4 after essentially being an every-down starter the first three weeks of the regular season. It appears that change in workload was due to injury, making Hawkins' status unclear for Sunday's road divisional matchup against the Bills. He'll likely need to get back on the practice field Thursday and/or Friday to have a chance at playing Week 5.
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Patriots' Jaylinn Hawkins: Plays fewer snaps in Week 4
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Hawkins recorded four tackles (four solo) in New England's win over Carolina on Sunday.
After playing 99 percent of the Patriots' defensive snaps across the first three games of the season, Hawkins was in on just 57 percent of the downs against Carolina, as both Kyle Dugger (51 percent) and Dell Pettus (26 percent) played their highest defensive snap rates of the season. Through four contests, Hawkins has recorded 20 tackles (16 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and one pass breakup, including one interception.
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Patriots' Jaylinn Hawkins: Logs three stops in Week 3
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Hawkins posted three tackles (two solo) in Sunday's loss to the Steelers.
Hawkins had a quiet performance after posting 13 tackles, including 1.0 sacks, and an interception through the first two weeks. He was on the field for every one of the Patriots' defensive snaps, which has been the case for two of the team's first three games this year.
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Patriots' Jaylinn Hawkins: Staying with Patriots
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The Patriots re-signed Hawkins to a one-year deal Wednesday, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.
Hawkins will stay in New England for the 2025 campaign after having racked up 48 tackles (27 solo) and a fumble recovery in 17 games last season. He will likely serve as one of the top backup safeties behind Kyle Dugger (ankle) and Jabrill Peppers (hamstring), and can contribute on special teams as well.
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Patriots' Jaylinn Hawkins: Makes seven starts in 2024
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Hawkins tallied 48 total tackles (27 solo) and defended one pass over 17 games in 2024.
The California product served as New England's top reserve safety this season, and with Jabrill Peppers (hamstring) missing nearly two months on the commissioner's exempt list, Hawkins had the opportunity start seven games. He was productive during his time on the field, posting the second-highest tackle total of his career while playing 581 defensive snaps. He's now set to become an unrestricted free agent after signing a one-year, $2.9 million deal with New England last offseason. Hawkins is likely to serve as a reserve safety again in 2025, whether with the Patriots or another team.
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Chargers' Jaylinn Hawkins: Headed to Los Angeles
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The Chargers claimed Hawkins off waivers Wednesday.
Hawkins will now head to Los Angeles after being waived by the Falcons on Tuesday. The 26-year-old could soon see playing time, with Alohi Gilman dealing with a heel injury.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Solid as first-year starter
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Hawkins produced 84 tackles (45 solo), six pass defenses, two interceptions, one forced fumble and a defensive touchdown across 16 appearances during the 2022 campaign.
After being a rotational piece in 2021, Hawkins earned a starting gig to begin 2022 and made the most of his opportunity by submitting a productive campaign. He missed just one game due to injury and recorded a career-high 84 tackles and six pass defenses. He also notched multiple interceptions for a second straight season and recorded his first career defensive touchdown. Barring an unforeseen change, Hawkins figures to start alongside Richie Grant to open the 2023 campaign, which will be the final year of Hawkins' rookie contract.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: No injury designation
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Hawkins doesn't have an injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Chargers, Scott Bair of the Falcons' official site reports.
Hawkins was sidelined for Week 8 due to a concussion he suffered in Week 7, but he was a full participant at each practice during Week 9 prep and is good to go for Sunday. The third-year safety has stepped up as a starter this season, posting 43 tackles, three pass defenses, one interception and one forced fumble across seven appearances.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: May not return
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Hawkins has left Sunday's contest with the Bengals to be evaluated for a head injury, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Hawkins will need to enter protocols if he suffered a concussion, which will certainly impact him for the week ahead. While he is out, Dean Marlowe should see extra opportunity.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Could move into starting lineup
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Hawkins could replace Erik Harris (pectoral) as the Falcons' starting safety, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
Rothstein reports that Harris is going to need season-ending surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle, so Hawkins -- who replaced Harris on Sunday -- is expected to operate as the starting safety for the balance of the season. Hawkins played every defensive snap for Atlanta and recorded three tackles during the Week 14 win over the Panthers.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Available to play Sunday
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Hawkins (ankle) is not on the injury report ahead of Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
The fact that Hawkins didn't appear on the injury report is a positive sign since he was unable to face the Patriots last week. Richie Grant has seen extra snaps with Hawkins out, but all signs point toward him returning to the field this Sunday.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Missing another game
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Hawkins (ankle) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Patriots, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Hawkins will be absent for the second consecutive game, though he did manage three limited practices leading up to the game. That should bode well for his potential to return in Week 12 against Jacksonville. Richie Grant has picked up some extra work in Hawkins' absence.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Clear of injury designation
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Hawkins (concussion) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Lions.
The 23-year-old missed the past two games while in the concussion protocol, but he progressed to full practice participation Friday. Hawkins should return to his reserve role in the secondary now that he's healthy.
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Falcons' Jaylinn Hawkins: Back on field, with limitations
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Hawkins (concussion) logged a limited practice session Wednesday, Jason Butt of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The fourth-round rookie has been unavailable since exiting Atlanta's Week 4 loss to the Packers with a concussion, but an appearance at practice foreshadows his return as soon as Sunday. Hawkins was not placed on injured reserve, meaning it was likely expected his absence would remain short-term. If he is able to go against the Lions on Sunday, Hawkins will back up Keanu Neal at strong safety in a matchup against the NFL's 22nd-ranked passing attack.
