Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai will miss next week’s mandatory minicamp with a left calf injury and should be sidelined until at least the start of training camp in late July, according to ESPN.

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Tavai hurt his calf during a competitive team period in Monday’s voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTA) practice. He remained on the ground for a few minutes, as teammates knelt around him. Tavai was eventually helped off the field and onto a training table, where his calf was examined by the team’s medical staff. He did not return to practice.

Tavai, 28, has been a central part of the Patriots’ top defensive units so far in OTAs. He’s played next to and behind projected starter Robert Spillane, who is expected to call signals in the team’s new defense. Tavai handled those duties last season, when he piled up at team-high 115 tackles over 16 starts in 17 game appearances.

Before the season, the Patriots signed Tavai to a three-year, $16 million contract extension worth up to $21 million with incentives. He had come off what was a career year in 2023, posting 110 tackles with two interceptions, one sack, five pass breakups and a couple forced fumbles. Tavai originally signed to the Patriots’ practice squad in 2021, then worked his way up the depth chart by making a dozen starts the following season.

Without him, the team is now down to Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Monty Rice and Cam Riley at the position. The Patriots re-signed Elliss in the offseason to a two-year, $13.5 million deal, matching an offer sheet he received from the Raiders as a restricted free agent. Spillane and Gibbens both signed as a free agent, while Rice is a holdover from last season and Riley joined as a rookie free agent in late April.