Next Man Up: Reintroducing Patriots LT Demontrey Jacobs

The New England Patriots are playing the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt described 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa as “a nightmare” to play against. Making things more difficult for New England, they could be trying to block him with their fourth different starting left tackle in as many weeks. Depending on the availability of some injured players, Demontrey Jacobs could get his first NFL start in San Francisco.

Chukwuma Okorafor started the season opener for New England. He played 12 offensive snaps before getting replaced. Vederian Lowe earned the first-team role in training camp but was dealing with an abdomen injury that kept him out of the starting lineup. Nevertheless, Jerod Mayo decided an injured Lowe would be more effective than a healthy Okorafor. Lowe finished the game against Cincinnati, then started Week 2 against Seattle.

Lowe started in Week 2 against Seattle, a game New England lost in overtime. He injured his knee toward the end of regulation. Rookie Caedan Wallace finished the Seahawks game, playing the Patriots’ lone overtime possession. Wallace got the start in Week 3 against the New York Jets. Like his two predecessors, he was unable to finish the game. Wallace injured his knee. Replacing him was an offensive tackle making his NFL debut, Demontrey Jacobs.

Also Read – Dan Kelley: Explaining How this Patriots Offensive Line Got to This Point

Okorafor left the team before Week 2. Lowe remains a non-participant in practice since being injured against Seattle. Wallace has been a limited participant in practice this week and could be unavailable against the 49ers. That potentially makes Demontrey Jacobs the man to keep Nick Bosa at bay on Sunday.

Get to Know Demontrey Jacobs

Jacobs was not ranked as a prospect out of East Ascension High School in Gonzales, La. He enrolled at Grambling State as part of the Class of 2017. He began his collegiate career as a defensive lineman. After redshirting his freshman season, Jacobs started 11 games in 2018. Jacobs switched to offense in 2019, starting 11 games once again. He transferred to South Florida after the season.

Demontrey Jacobs joined the USF Bulls for the 2020 season. He played in seven games, starting once at left tackle. Jacobs played 159 offensive snaps at right tackle and 106 on the left side. He allowed eight quarterback pressures and committed three penalties, earning just a 43.3 grade on the year from Pro Football Focus.

Jacobs became a full-time starter in his final two years in college. In 2020, he started all 12 games at left tackle. He allowed 27 quarterback pressures but only one sack. He committed no penalties.

During Jacobs’ final season with the Bulls, he again started 12 games, the first four at right tackle and the last eight on the left side. His play was solid, lowering his pressures-allowed to 17 and committing just two penalties. Jacobs did struggle against Houston, allowing five quarterback pressures, three at the hands of Nelson Ceaser.

Pro Football Focus graded Jacobs’ 2021 and 2022 seasons as a full-time starter at 62.2 and 61.8, respectively.

NFL Career

Demontrey Jacobs did not get selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. He signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent. He stayed with the team through training camp. In three preseason games, he allowed four pressures and committed two penalties over 86 offensive snaps. Although he was part of the Broncos final cuts, they signed him to their practice squad after he cleared waivers. Jacobs spent his rookie season on Denver’s practice squad.

Jacobs remained with the Broncos through the 2024 offseason and training camp. He played in all three preseason games, showing noticeable improvement. He allowed two pressures and committed one penalty over 101 offensive snaps. His grade from PFF for his preseason performance went from 46.0 in 2023 to 73.0 in 2024. He was released by Denver as part of their final cuts, but this time was claimed by the New England Patriots.

Jacobs was inactive for the first two weeks of the season. But after Okorafor’s departure and Lowe’s injury, he was activated for Week 3 against the New York Jets. After Wallace’s injury, Jacobs saw his first NFL playing time. He played 14 snaps on offense and allowed a sack.

Now, Demontrey Jacobs could find himself starting for the first time on Sunday. If so, he’ll face a tall task in the San Francisco 49ers’ star Nick Bosa. Fortunately for Jacobs, though not the New England Patriots, the three players he’s following have all struggled mightily this season. If he can perform as he did in the preseason, perhaps he can hold onto the left tackle job beyond a one-week replacement basis. Stay tuned.