Copyright MassLive
FOXBOROUGH – After hearing his name rumored in trades this season, Anfernee Jennings was happy to be back at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday. The veteran edge rusher was the subject of trade rumors this summer but stayed on the Patriots roster after cut-down day. Entering Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, Jennings once again had his name mentioned in multiple reports. After seeing Kyle Dugger and Keion White traded last week, Jennings told MassLive on Wednesday he was happy to stay in New England. “I want to be here,” Jennings said. “I’m here. That’s what it is.” A veteran of five seasons, Jennings understands the business of the NFL. He saw it unfold last week with two friends. Jennings entered the NFL with Dugger as a part of the Patriots’ 2020 draft class. The pair started 107 games for the Patriots. With Mike Vrabel coming in and the Patriots defensive schemes changing, the Patriots traded Dugger to Pittsburgh last week. When the Patriots drafted White in 2023, the edge roster was given the locker right next to Jennings. This season, both players backed up starters Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson. After the Patriots traded White to San Francisco, Jennings became the team’s top backup edge rusher. “It’s just all a part of the business. We all get that. We all understand that,” Jennings said when asked about the trades of Dugger and White. “We just try to control what we can control. We built those friendships and bonds, and we’ll always have those, but at the end of the day, it gets to a point where you’ve got to do stuff that you might not want to do all the time, but do for your family and a better part of the game.” After starting for the Patriots the last two seasons, Jennings has played a reserve role this season. He’s appeared in six games, making eight tackles and one sack. His playing time and fit in Vrabel’s scheme are reasons why his name was floated in trade rumors. Despite the noise, Jennings said he had a good Tuesday and was enjoying his time with Vrabel. “It’s been good. Vrabes obviously played here and had success here,” Jennings said. “He’s also been a coach in the league, had success somewhere else. Hearing his perspective every day, and coaching us hard, has been good for me.”
