Cam Newton responds with strong finish to day 2 of camp
Until the final 11-on-11 period, there wasn’t a ton to glean from day 2 of 2021 Patriots training camp. Then Cam Newton went on a run.
After going 2-for-6 with a touchdown and interception in the final 11-on-11 red zone drills on Wednesday (via Jeff Howe), Newton seemingly wanted to make up for it. He responded strongly in the same late team drills on Thursday, going 5-for-6 with two touchdowns. Newton remains the leader in reps at quarterback ahead of rookie Mac Jones, who went 2-for-6 with a touchdown in the same session.
Newton’s best highlights were his “touchdowns,” one of which he had to thread between the outstretched arms of defensive end Henry Anderson. Batted passes at the line of scrimmage were an issue for Newton in the 2020 season, so Thursday was a small indicator that he’s showing improvement in that area.
His other score came on an out route to the right for running back Brandon Bolden. He dropped the ball perfectly into Bolden’s hands over the shoulder of Pats linebacker Josh Uche.
Overall, neither Newton nor Jones have taken a clear lead in terms of performance. But as the incumbent, Newton should be able to maintain his hold on the top spot on the depth chart after showing a striking sense of urgency in that final 11-on-11 session.
Notably, the Patriots also cranked the music for the first time in camp during this particular session. Newton obviously handled the extreme noise better than Jones, completing a short pass to tight end Jonnu Smith on his first snap, just as the team blared Motley Crue’s “Kickstart My Heart.”
Jones is likely going to need to significantly separate himself from Newton in order to get consideration for the starting job at the beginning of the 2021 regular season. While Jones has certainly looked more like a Patriots quarterback than Newton ever has, he’s also made rookie mistakes like Wednesday’s fumbled snap and shown visible frustration in the face of adverse conditions.
As a first-round pick, Jones is definitely expected to start games eventually. But he hasn’t done nearly enough to prove that Bill Belichick needs to go with him over Newton in September. Especially after Newton’s late surge on Thursday.
Only two days, and a long way to go from here. But so far, the Patriots’ quarterback battle is even at best, and Newton has certainly done enough for Belichick to keep him in the No. 1 spot.
MORE: Patriots Training Camp Notebook, Day 2
Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster 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? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @mattydsays. You can also email him at [email protected].
