Langi driven to put past behind him
FOXBORO — Patriots linebacker Harvey Langi understood he was a hard hit away from a careerending injury when he signed on as a rookie free agent in 2017. But the injury that ended Langi’s rookie season occurred off the field and he never saw it coming.
Langi and his wife Cassidy ware waiting at a red light to make a left turn onto Commercial Street in Foxboro on Oct. 13, when their car was struck from behind by another vehicle.
A Jeep Grand Cherokee allegedly traveling 50 mph slammed into the Langi’s Mazda, pinning his car between the Jeep and the stationary car in front. Langi suffered head, neck and back injuries while his wife broke both hips and several ribs.
“I just take it day by day,” said Langi following yesterday’s organized team activities workout on the upper practice field outside Gillette Stadium.
“I’m just getting ready everyday just to come out here and help the team as much as I can. It was a car accident and a lot of collision happened but you know what, we both are over that and are passed that.
“We are just looking forward and progressing and she is doing awesome.”
Langi beat the odds when he won a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent out of BYU. The Patriots were deep at linebacker, so Langi appeared in just one game, a 36-20 win at New Orleans on Sept. 17.
Langi’s NFL résumé consists of one special teams tackle against the Saints. He was placed on the non-football injury list on Oct. 25.
“Like I said, it is just an everyday thing for me and I just take it day by day,” said Langi. “I don’t look very far into the future but I haven’t forgot what I need to do, so I just take it day by day.
“I’m trying to string these days together and stack them day by day.”
The Patriots have a solid nucleus at linebacker that will improve with the return of Dont’a Hightower, who missed the second half of last season with a torn pectoral muscle.
The Pats added depth to the position by selecting Ja’Whaun Bentley of Purdue in the fifth round and Arizona State’s Christian Sam in the sixth in the NFL Draft.
Langi hopes his versatility will again be noticed by the coaching staff. The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder said he can play inside or outside and can line up as an edge pass rusher.
“Right now, they are putting me in the best spot they think is best,” said Langi. “I can be on the (defensive) line, it can be at linebacker and it can be anywhere.
“Wherever they put me I’m just going to work on my techniques and work on the things that the position demands. It was the same thing at BYU, and when I left there I just wanted to be progressing.”
Langi and linebacker Kyle Van Noy did not crossover at BYU but gravitated to each other in training camp.
“Of course, you are going to notice the guys who went to the same university, and Kyle has been awesome. He’s a great guy,” said Langi.