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Patriots' Raekwon McMillan Reportedly Suffers Season-Ending ACL Injury
August 7, 2021
New England Patriots linebacker Raekwon McMillan reportedly suffered a torn ACL during a training camp practice that'll force him to miss the entire 2021 season.
Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported the news Saturday.
McMillan, 25, signed a one-year contract with the Patriots in March after spending the 2020 season with the Las Vegas Raiders. He spent the first three years of his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins, who selected him in the second round of the 2017 draft.
The Ohio State product missed his entire rookie season after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee. This time he suffered the injury to his left knee, according to Rapoport and Pelissero.
McMillan returned for the Dolphins in 2018 and recorded 177 total tackles, two forced fumbles and two passes defended in 29 appearances over the next two seasons.
The Georgia native played a reserve role for the Raiders in 2020 and made 27 tackles in 16 games. He received a lackluster 30.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
In March, McMillan said he was excited to join a New England franchise that's won six Super Bowl titles since the turn of the millennium.
"Just seeing them and seeing the prestige that came with being a Patriot and this track record of winning football games and winning championships," he told reporters. "That really did it for me. I just wanted to be a part of that."
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick praised the veteran linebacker for his work early in camp.
"Raekwon's done a real good job," Belichick said Monday. "... He's locked in every day. He works extremely hard both on and off the field. Does a great job of trying to get it just the way that it's supposed to be, the way he's been taught. He takes all that very seriously and handles a lot of responsibility in there."
McMillan's injury will leave Terez Hall, who opened camp on the physically unable to perform list, as the top reserve behind Dont'a Hightower and Ja'Whaun Bentley at inside linebacker once healthy.