By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
UPDATE (Wednesday, 11:00 a.m.): Practice ended between the Patriots and Lions after less than an hour of walkthroughs and no competitive team drills. Many of the teams’ usual starters didn’t participate in the walkthroughs, meaning you’ll see mostly, if not all backups playing on Thursday night.
The Patriots and Lions have taken the field in shorts and shells ahead of their preseason tilt on Thursday night. Clearly, Wednesday’s joint practice is going to gear down from the intensity of Tuesday.
One item to watch for, still, is the status of rookie wide receiver N’Keal Harry. The 2019 first-round pick had an injury scare with his right leg on Tuesday, but eventually returned to practice. It’ll be interesting to see how much the Patriots use him on Wednesday and how much he plays in the preseason opener at Ford Field.
The Patriots’ competitive pass-rushing group and the progress of other offensive weapons like Sony Michel are also among the main topics over the next two days. But check below for live updates from the third and final joint practice, thanks to tweets from the many fine Patriots reporters in attendance.
Live Updates
— Practice is already over after less than an hour. Just a light walkthrough, no competitive team drills. Patriots and Lions taking it severely easy before they get to real game action on Thursday.
That’s all, folks.
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 7, 2019
Day 3 of #Patriots-Lions joint practices is over after 45 minutes of a breezy walkthrough.
Brady 0-0, Hoyer 0-0 ... Stidham 0-0. pic.twitter.com/SENvdH8aVQ
“Practice” is already over. That was thrilling stuff. #Patriots
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) August 7, 2019
— Here are the other starters who are sitting out the initial walkthroughs, indicating that they will have the night off on Thursday:
A bunch of Patriots starters -- including Brady, Gilmore, Hightower, Van Noy, Bennett, McCourtys, Chung, Collins, Michel, White -- aren't participating in this quarter-speed walkthrough. N'Keal Harry's sitting out, too. I'd be surprised if any of them played tomorrow night.
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) August 7, 2019
— Per Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal, N’Keal Harry “hasn’t done anything so far” in practice. No team drills for the rookie receiver. It looks like the Patriots are going to limit Harry on Wednesday and Thursday as a precautionary measure, if that wasn’t already the plan anyway.
Harry hasn’t done anything so far today. Looks like the Patriots are being cautious
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) August 7, 2019
— In the first indication that Tom Brady won’t play in the preseason opener, Brian Hoyer is taking the first reps in the initial walkthrough. That’s not a surprise. If we see Brady in preseason action at all, it’ll be in the second and/or third games.
Brian Hoyer is taking the first rep of the practice. Relative to past preseasons, that’s a decent indication Brady will get the night off tomorrow.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) August 7, 2019
— Here’s your complete injury report, via Doug Kyed of NESN. No surprises on Wednesday. Rex Burkhead, Julian Edelman, and Demaryius Thomas are present but not in uniform.
Patriots practice attendance:
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) August 7, 2019
No Meredith, Webster, Ebner, Cajuste, Kendricks.
Edelman, Thomas, Burkhead are here but not in uniform.
N'Keal Harry is in uniform.
Patrick Chung is in a red non-contact jersey.
Rex Burkhead, Demaryius Thomas and Julian Edelman all here but not in uniform. pic.twitter.com/5WXYHauK1c
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) August 7, 2019
— N’Keal Harry is present and accounted for. It’s unclear whether he’ll be a full participant or limited, but it’s a good sign that he’s back out there in the first place.
N’Keal Harry is here at practice. He just jogged on the field.
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) August 7, 2019
N”Keal Harry, who tweaked his right hamstring at Tuesday’s practice, is here for today’s walkthrough practice. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/IN7UPs1CNi
— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) August 7, 2019
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
