Jahlani Tavai’s Wife Reveals Tragic Reason For Patriots Linebacker’s Week 12 Absence
Tavai and his family dealt with a scary situation in November
The last time we saw the New England Patriots in action, they picked up a 33-15 victory over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football in Week 13. There was a lot to like about this win for the Pats, with one of the more overlooked aspects of this game being the return of star linebacker Jahlani Tavai.
Ahead of the team’s Week 12 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tavai was abruptly ruled out for the game due to personal reasons. While no exact reason for his absence was given, the way folks around the team talked about the situation made it seem like he was dealing with something serious.
Ahead of the team’s next game, Tavai’s wife, Kalei, revealed that the talented defender missed the team’s win over Cincy because she got a rare blood infection that landed her in the hospital. Kalei, who was pregnant at the time, was placed in a medically induced coma for six days, and unfortunately, their baby, Ka ua, passed away in her womb.
There are many things more important than football, and the health of Kalei was certainly more important for Jahlani. Thankfully, she appears to be doing much better, but the situation was understandably taxing for the Tavai family as a whole.
Tavai didn’t skip a beat when he returned to the field in Week 13, as he picked up a pair of tackles in what was part of a vicious display from New England’s defense. While he hasn’t had as big a role as he had in seasons past, Tavai is still a crucial piece of the puzzle for the Pats.
It will be all hands on deck for New England in Week 15, as it has a rematch with the Buffalo Bills on its schedule. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon, and if the Patriots win this game, they will have officially clinched the AFC East division.
