Patriots training camp notebook: Who stepped up with Nelson Agholor out on Day 10?

Author Alex Barth

August 8th, 2021 7:34 PM

Through two weeks of training camp, Nelson Agholor has been the best receiver for the Patriots. Agholor missed Sunday’s practice, giving other players chances to step up, with two standing out and making the most of the opportunity.

N’Keal Harry continues to stack days, with his third solid practice in a row. His day was highlighted by what might have been the catch of the summer so far, a full-extension grab in the end zone on a throw from Cam Newton.

With Harry’s trade request still unclear, it’s hard to get a firm grasp on his standing on the roster. He’s putting together the best run he’s had since joining the Patriots, but with three wide receivers ahead of him on the depth chart and his lack of special teams ability he’ll need to keep it up through the end of camp.

The other standout receiver was the player arguably pushing Harry the hardest for a roster spot. Kristian Wilkerson caught a team-high seven passes on the day, and was a frequent target of both Newton and Mac Jones.

Wilkerson displayed a varied route tree running both deep and underneath. His highlight was a 50-plus yard deep ball he caught from Newton early in practice.

In terms of raw skill, Wilkerson isn’t where Harry as a wide receiver. But he’s got upside, and given the nature of the spot they’re fighting for, Wilkerson’s considerable special teams experience and ability could close that gap. There’s still a long way to go, and the upcoming preseason games and joint practices will be key for both players.

Here’s more news and notes from Day 10 of Patriots training camp…

• Mac gets the reps edge again

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  In what's becoming somewhat of a trend, Mac Jones almost doubled up Cam Newton in team reps on Sunday. During 11-on-11's, Jones was 17-of-22, while Newton finished a clean 12-of-13.
  
  It was a strong day for both quarterbacks, save one miscue for each. Jones was intercepted by Michael Jackson, who jumped an underneath route and made a diving grab. Newton was on the wrong end of a great read by Devin McCourty who lurked over a Jakobi Meyers comeback route, and jumped in front to pick it off.

• Depth cornerback making plays

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  So far, the battle for the third outside cornerback spot hasn't quite lived up to expectations. Joejuan Williams and Michael Jackson are the two top candidates for the spot, and Sunday was the first day one of them stood out.
  
  Jackson frequently showed up in coverage, often working against some of the Patriots' top wideouts. He had the interception against Mac Jones, and batted two passes down as well. One was on a deep throw to Wilkerson, where he just got his hand up in time to knock the ball away.
  
  It's just one strong practice for Jackson - the job is hardly won. But with the first preseason game in less than a week, if he's getting hot, he picked the right time.

• Barmore’s big return

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  Christian Barmore returned after missing the last two practices, and picked up right where he left off with another dominant showing. He beat Shaq Mason in a one-on-one, and saw significant time with the presumed starters in 11-on-11's.
  
  While Barmore's success getting after the quarterback was expected (although not to this level), it's what he's done against the run that really stands out. At the draft, he projected to be a situational pass rusher as a rookie while rounding out the rest of his game, but through two padded practices he's looked like a potential three-down player. That, combined with a strong start from free agent Davon Godchaux should have Patriots fans excited about the interior of the defensive line, after a rough season in 2020.
• Injuries piling up

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  Barmore wasn't the only player to return for the Patriots. Ted Karras was back at practice after getting rolled up on early in camp. Devin Asiasi, who was activated off COVID-IR on Saturday, made his 2021 debut.
  
  Meanwhile, six players not on PUP or NFI missed Sunday's session. No reason was given for Agholor's absence, he finished the team's last practice on Friday seemingly without issue.
  
  Along with Agholor, Brandon Bolden, Nick Folk, Akeem Spence, Adrian Colbert, and D'Angelo Ross were also not spotted. There were no first-time absences.
  
  On top of all of those players, three left Sunday's practice during the session. Hunter Henry, Joe Cardona, and Jerald Hawkins all went to the locker room early, while David Andrews appeared to hurt his hand towards the end of practice, and watched the remainder from the sideline. Matt Dolloff has more on Henry's absence here. With Cardona out, Jonnu Smith and Deatrich Wise both got reps at long snapper.

• Notable Quotables

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  N'Keal Harry on his highlight catch: "I feel like that’s what I’m gonna do. Any ball that’s in my vicinity, I feel like I have to do anything in my power to get it. So balls like that, I’m going to dive for it, and I’m going to give my all to get there. I’ll do anything to catch that ball."
  
  Carl Davis on re-signing in New England: "This style, it fits me. I've been to a lot of different places, and I honestly feel like I'm at home. I feel like it's home to me. I don't know why, but I feel so comfortable just being myself, and I think that's helped me translate everything to the field."
  
  Matthew Slater on if it feels like he's been in the league for 14 years: "No, it doesn’t. It really goes by fast. And I never dreamed, in a million years, that I’d play this long in this league. There’s so many great athletes, so many great teams. I never thought of myself as a great athlete or a great this or that. I just have always been someone who is appreciative of my opportunity. Keep my head down, keep working hard, and see what that gets me. I thank God for the favor he’s shown me the last 14 years."

For more on Day 10 of Patriots training camp, check out today’s recap podcast featuring Mark Daniels of The Providence Journal.

MORE: Chase Winovich nearing a return?

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Author Alex Barth

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