Why Vrabel named Anfernee Jennings a game captain for AFC title game

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is honoring the crew’s longest-tenured participant in a neat method for Sunday’s AFC Championship Recreation.

Edge rusher Anfernee Jennings shall be a crew captain when the Patriots tackle the Broncos in Denver on Sunday, Vrabel shared on Friday.

“Very well. He’s going to be a sport captain, and that’s deservedly so,” Vrabel advised reporters when requested how he felt Jennings has carried out over the previous couple of video games. “He has a professionalism that he’s proven all through this whole season. Respect it, recognize him benefiting from his alternatives, taking part in bodily, taking part in on particular groups, discovering a task.

“So once more, that was a simple choose for me this week.”

Whereas every crew has a handful of captains (the Patriots have six), there are some weeks when a crew would possibly designate a participant to be a captain for a particular sport. When a participant will get that honor, they normally participate within the opening coin toss.

Jennings, who the Patriots drafted within the third spherical of the 2020 NFL Draft, stated that he discovered he was going to be the crew’s sport captain for Sunday when Vrabel confirmed his highschool highlights throughout a crew assembly on Friday. In one of many highlights, Jennings threw a landing and advised reporters that it was a “dope” feeling to comprehend in that second he was going to be a sport captain for Sunday’s AFC title tilt.

“It means lots,” Jennings advised reporters, via MassLive’s Mark Daniels. “Simply put my head down and work and management what I can management. I’m attempting to do my job and assist the crew win in any method I can. We’re at this level and it’s a blessing, however nothing adjustments. I nonetheless wish to assist my crew win, put my finest foot ahead, exit and have enjoyable with the blokes.”

Jennings has performed a noticeable position for a Patriots cross rush that’s logged 9 sacks thus far this postseason. The sixth-year edge rusher is answerable for two of these sacks, matching his complete from the common season. Jennings has logged a sack in every playoff sport, including six pressures this postseason, per Professional Soccer Focus.

Whereas Jennings has seen a discount in defensive snaps this yr from final yr, his manufacturing within the postseason is an indication of how far he’s come since his early seasons with the Patriots. He was primarily a particular teamer in his first couple of years, lacking your entire 2021 season as a consequence of damage.

Jennings had a surgence, although, in 2023. He had 66 complete tackles that yr and 78 complete tackles in 2024, rising as one of many sport’s prime run defenders over that stretch. PFF graded Jennings as its fifth-best edge participant at stopping the run out of 114 gamers in 2023.

Jennings might see some extra taking part in time on Sunday as nicely. Veteran edge rusher Harold Landry III has been dominated out with a knee damage, leaving some snaps open at edge rusher for Sunday’s title tilt.