Mike Vrabel offers a cautiously hopeful update on Brenden Schooler and Harold Landry ahead of the next Patriots stretch

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel gave a somewhat optimistic update on two players who have been absent for most of the summer, speaking after the team’s preseason finale. The comments focused less on timelines than on where things stand, with the coach asked about special teams standout Brenden Schooler and edge rusher Harold Landry, both of whom have been out of the picture during key periods of offseason work.

The backdrop is important for the Patriots’ roster picture. Schooler, who has been valued for his special teams role, is on the non-football injury list. That designation generally means a player’s status is tied to an injury that did not occur during team football activities, which can complicate a straight-line ramp back to full participation.

Landry’s absence has followed a different path. Vrabel acknowledged that the outside linebacker began the preseason on the physically unable to perform list, a label used when a player cannot take part in football activities at the start of camp. Starting there can report that a condition is being managed while the team monitors progress, and it often becomes a day-to-day situation as clearance decisions are made.

Vrabel’s update was framed as “somewhat optimistic,” which is a telling phrase in a league where even minor setbacks can delay a return. In practical terms, it suggests the Patriots view both situations as worth keeping open, rather than treating either absence as an immediate long-term loss. Still, the lack of a firm timetable means the team has to prepare for multiple scenarios.

For New England, the concern is not only who might return, but also what those returns would mean for specific units. Schooler’s value comes from consistency and execution on special teams, areas where replacements can look capable early but struggle to match the fine details once games tighten. Landry’s potential return matters at the point of attack and in pass-rush planning, where the edge rotation and snap distribution are a recurring theme from week to week.

The timing also matters with roster depth in mind. After the preseason finale, teams typically tighten the competitive field that shapes the final regular-season group. A player’s ability to practice and play in the early portion of the next stretch often becomes the deciding factor for how coaches balance experience, upside, and role clarity.

What to watch next is whether either player can increase participation in team activities and how quickly they move from limited availability into more standard preparation. If Vrabel’s optimism translates into practice reps, it could stabilize two of the Patriots’ most targeted areas on the field. If not, New England will be forced to continue building game plans around the players who are able to do the work immediately.

Because the only detailed reporting here comes from a post-finale coach inquiry, readers should treat any optimism as conditional. Until a team provides clearer updates through practice participation designations or official injury/status reporting, the precise readiness level for Schooler and Landry remains uncertain. Still, their distinct list designations suggest the Patriots are managing two different paths to availability rather than a single, uniform issue.