Why Patriots' 58 Jared Wilson has a bigger helmet than his New England teammates

1 hour ago 3

The New England Patriots rely on their offensive line to keep Drake Maye upright.

One of the guys on the five-man unit has a slightly different look than the others.

Jared Wilson, wearing number 58, has a helmet that looks bigger than the rest.

That's only sort of true.

MORE: Drake Maye's college journey included a key flip away from Nick Saban

Why does Patriots 58 Jared Wilson have a bigger helmet?

That's not actually a bigger helmet. It's actually a Guardian Cap.

It's a soft-shell covering designed to protect from head injuries.

Guardian Caps were first allowed to be worn on NFL practice fields in 2020.

The first time players could wear Guardian Caps in games was 2024.

MORE: What Steelers hiring Mike McCarthy means for Aaron Rodgers

Wilson sustained a concussion in Week 16 and had to miss both Weeks 17 and 18.

He hadn't worn a Guardian Cap before then, but he came back with one after the injury.

Clearly, he just wants to be out there.

Wilson was a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Georgia. He played 13 games in the regular season and is now a key cog in the playoffs.