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Jake Ballard | Tight End

Team: New England Patriots
Age / DOB:  (25) / 12/21/1987
Ht / Wt:  6'6' / 275
College: Ohio State
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

Jake Ballard (knee surgery) is participating in Patriots OTAs.
According to ESPN Boston, Ballard wasn't showing any effects of his February 2012 ACL tear, and participated in the "majority of practice reps." Ballard won't be a factor in the Patriots' passing game if both Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are healthy, but the Pats' top two tight ends are rarely 100 percent at the same time. Ballard posted a 38/604/4 line in 2011 for the Giants before missing all of 2012. May 21 - 2:23 PM
Source: ESPN Boston

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Player News

Date:
Jake Ballard - TE - Patriots

The Patriots still have "high hopes" for TE Jake Ballard (knee).

Thanks to the injury woes of Rob Gronkowski (arm) and Aaron Hernandez (shoulder), Ballard's rehab has taken on a different context. If he can get on the field for the offseason program, he'll be the temporary No. 1 pass-catching tight end at practices. Ballard caught 38 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns while with the Giants during the 2011 season. He sustained a torn left ACL during that year's Super Bowl.
Source: Boston Herald
Apr 17 - 9:55 AM
Jake Ballard - TE - Patriots

Patriots TE Jake Ballard (knee) is "ready to hit the field," but the team is going to "take it slow" with him.

Ballard is said to be "recovering nicely" from the torn left ACL he suffered just over 14 months ago. The Patriots will kick off their offseason workout program on Monday, and Ballard may be limited to just mental reps when the offense gets on the field. However, he's on track to be ready for OTAs in late May.
Source: Boston Herald
Apr 14 - 8:53 AM
Jake Ballard - TE - Patriots

Beat writer Mike Reiss thinks the Patriots "are high" on Jake Ballard's potential contributions.

Ballard will be roughly 18 months removed from his ACL reconstruction and microfracture surgery by the time training camp rolls around. If he's not 100 percent by then, he may never be. Still just 25 years old, Ballard will be in the mix for tight-end reps in formations Aaron Hernandez is used as a slot receiver. He'll also serve as Rob Gronkowski's direct backup.
Source: ESPN Boston
Mar 26 - 12:33 PM
Jake Ballard - TE - Patriots

Patriots TE Jake Ballard's (knee) recovery is "coming along nicely," and there have been no setbacks.

Ballard underwent ACL reconstruction and microfracture surgery last offseason after shredding his knee in the Giants' Super Bowl win over the Patriots. The 25-year-old is questionable for OTAs at the moment, but if all goes well, then he should be full go and competing for a roster spot in training camp.
Source: ESPN Boston
Feb 17 - 8:50 AM
Jake Ballard - TE - Patriots

ESPN Boston mentions TE Jake Ballard as an under-the-radar name to watch for 2013.

Ballard was plucked off waivers from the Giants last June, but he spent the entire season on PUP after undergoing ACL reconstruction and microfracture surgery. He's an exclusive rights free agent this offseason and will certainly be brought back, but he'll obviously be no higher than the third option at tight end behind Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. Ballard, 25, averaged 15.9 YPC on 38 grabs in 2011, finding the end zone four times.
Source: ESPN Boston
Jan 25 - 9:51 AM
Jake Ballard - TE - Patriots

Patriots will not activate TE Jake Ballard (knee surgeries) off PUP, ending his season.

The Pats never made an official announcement, but Ballard's 21-day window to be activated has come and gone. Ballard was never likely to play this season after undergoing ACL reconstruction and microfracture surgery following the Super Bowl. He'll be an exclusive rights free agent in the offseason, making him extremely likely to be back with the Pats in 2013. Three weeks shy of his 25th birthday, Ballard caught 38 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns in 2011 for the Giants.
Source: Boston Herald
Thu, Nov 29, 2012 05:59:00 PM
Jake Ballard - TE - Patriots

Patriots placed Jake Ballard (knee surgeries) on reserve/PUP.

Ballard is eligible to return after Week 6, but that's not expected to happen. He's recovering from both an ACL reconstruction and microfracture surgery. The Pats figure to move Ballard to injured reserve at midseason.
Mon, Aug 27, 2012 11:24:00 AM
Jake Ballard - TE - Patriots

The Giants planned to place TE Jake Ballard (knee surgeries) on the PUP list before he was claimed off waivers by the Patriots.

And it's likely where he'll end up in New England. Per Profootballtalk, the Pats were the only team to place a claim on the 24-year-old tight end. If Ballard doesn't take the field in 2012, he'll be an exclusive rights free agent next offseason after catching 38 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns in 2011.
Related: Giants
Source: New York Daily News
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 08:35:00 PM
Jake Ballard - TE - Patriots

Patriots claimed TE Jake Ballard off waivers from the Giants.

It's been quite the roller coaster ride for Ballard, who went from meeting the U.S. President to being waived and subsequently claimed by the team he beat in the Super Bowl in a span of three days. Recovering from ACL reconstruction and microfracture surgery, Ballard will likely begin the 2012 season on the PUP list before moving to injured reserve. In that scenario, he would be an exclusive rights free agent again in 2013.
Related: Giants
Source: Blake Baratz on Twitter
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 04:59:00 PM
Jake Ballard - TE - Patriots

Jake Ballard's agent says the Giants have every intention of re-signing his client, who is a restricted free agent in 2013.

The Giants waived/injured Ballard after he failed a physical. He'll spend the season rehabbing the torn ligaments in his knees and look to latch back on with the Giants for the 2013 season. Remember that Martellus Bennett was only signed to a one-year deal back in March.
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 05:15:00 PM
Jake Ballard - TE - Patriots

Giants waived/failed physical TE Jake Ballard.

He'll clear waivers and go on I.R. Ballard returned from a torn PCL in his right knee late last season, but proceeded to tear his left ACL and meniscus in Super Bowl XLVI. On February 21, Ballard underwent both an ACL reconstruction and microfracture surgery. He'll sit this year out and try to make a comeback in 2013. Ballard caught 38 balls for 604 yards and four touchdowns last season.
Mon, Jun 11, 2012 04:08:00 PM
Jake Ballard - TE - Patriots

Giants TE Jake Ballard (microfracture, ACL surgery) concedes his best chance to return in 2012 is by mid-season, "if at all."

Ballard will start training camp as well as the regular season on the PUP list. Having signed Martellus Bennett to a one-year contract, the Giants aren't going to count on a contribution from Ballard until the 2013 season.
Source: Art Stapleton on Twitter
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 01:26:00 PM
Jake Ballard - TE - Patriots

Giants TE Jake Ballard underwent microfracture knee surgery in addition to the standard ACL procedure early this offseason.

Ballard felt like he "ripped everything and broke everything" when he went down in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. The damaged cartilage that required microfracture surgery likely occurred when Ballard went to test the knee on the sidelines after tearing his ACL. Ballard could be facing an additional six weeks on top of the 8-9 month timetable for reconstructive knee surgery. A lock to start the season on the PUP list, Ballard may sit out all 16 games. Odds are against the 2011 breakout starter recapturing pre-injury form in 2013 and beyond.
Source: Bergen Record
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 09:15:00 AM
Jake Ballard - TE - Patriots

GM Jerry Reese concedes that TEs Jake Ballard (ACL tear) and Travis Beckum (ACL tear) will likely start the 2012 season on the PUP list.

The recovery timetable is typically eight months, pushing the two tight ends into at least October. Both players are scheduled to go under the knife on Tuesday, February 21. Although Reese thinks highly of practice squad TE Christian Hopkins, suggesting he could compete for "significant playing time," the position figures to be on the Giants' list of offseason priorities.
Related: Travis Beckum, Christian Hopkins
Source: Ralph Vacchiano on Twitter
Thu, Feb 9, 2012 02:19:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Tom Brady
2Ryan Mallett
3Mike Kafka
RB1Stevan Ridley
2Shane Vereen
3Brandon Bolden
4LeGarrette Blount
5Leon Washington
GLB1Stevan Ridley
2Shane Vereen
3RB1Shane Vereen
2Stevan Ridley
FB1James Develin
2Ben Bartholomew
WR11Danny Amendola
2Julian Edelman
3Donald Jones
4Matt Slater
5T.J. Moe
WR21Aaron Dobson
2Josh Boyce
3Michael Jenkins
4Lavelle Hawkins
5Kenbrell Thompkins
6Mark Harrison
WR31Julian Edelman
TE1Rob Gronkowski
2Aaron Hernandez
3Michael Hoomanawanui
4Daniel Fells
5Jake Ballard
K1Stephen Gostkowski