8 Players that stood out on day 8 of Patriots training camp
The New England Patriots continued training camp on Friday with their eighth open practice, and their third in full pads. Here are eight players that stood out on the practice field in Foxboro, for various reasons.
FOXBORO — For the first time in full pads, the Patriots offense can say it had a better overall day than the offense.
It’s of little surprise that said success has coincided with good plays by the wide receivers. A pair of wideouts, in particular, made eye-opening catches for “touchdowns” during a team red zone period.
Here are X players that stood out at Patriots practice on Friday, for both good and/or bad reasons…
QB Jacoby Brissett
Overall, Brissett went 13-of-22 in 11-on-11 drills, and 4-of-5 with three touchdowns in a red zone 7-on-7 period. He continues to rep exclusively with the projected starters on offense and is clearly in the lead to start Week 1.
In the passing game, Brissett continues to show a good rapport with the running backs and tight ends. At receiver, DeMario “Pop” Douglas showed out well (more on him below). He’s also had a lot of clean pockets in the team drills, a promising sign for an offense that has long sought continuity and production on the offensive line.
Brissett’s best throw of the day was in 7-on-7, when he hit Douglas in the back-right corner of the end zone with a well-placed and well-timed ball for a score against Jonathan Jones and Kyle Dugger.
After two years of dysfunction and poor quarterback play for the Patriots, Brissett may very well deliver mediocrity. Nothing to get too excited about, but it would be a huge improvement over the last-place offense of 2023.
WR DeMario Douglas
“Pop” popped. Douglas is still wearing a red non-contact jersey, which may be a factor in the separation he’s getting on defenders that can’t touch him, but the second-year pro is showing off his ridiculous quickness when given the opportunity. He finished the day with five catches in team drills, and a sixth target deep down the field that Brissett overthrew.
Douglas made the aforementioned touchdown grab in 7-on-7, but his best play of the day came when he got wide open down the seam in a late 11-on-11 period for another score. He also got what looked like five yards of separation on Jonathan Jones at the top of his route for a nice catch from Brissett in 11’s.
It’s no surprise that the Patriots offense has started to look better and more explosive with their quickest, most explosive pass-catcher back on the field.
WR K.J. Osborn
Douglas may have won the day in the receiver room based on volume, but Osborn made the single best catch of the day. During 7-on-7, Brissett lofted a corner fade Osborn’s way, and the receiver had to adjust around Christian Gonzalez in coverage to snatch the ball away from the second-year cornerback. Osborn let out a huge yell after making the play.
The Patriots have a hell of a competitor in Osborn, who continues to look like one of the leading candidates for a roster spot on a crowded receiver depth chart.
WR Kayshon Boutte
Curiously, Boutte started to flash during a late 11-on-11 period that was a simulated two-minute drill, in which the team put 1:42 on the clock. Boutte caught 2-of-3 targets from Brissett during this period. He did drop the one incompletion. But it was interesting to see the level of trust the Patriots showed in Boutte by having him on the field for a two-minute offense with the starters in the first place.
OT Calvin Anderson
A strange, but interesting day for Anderson. During an early 11-on-11 period, he went down with what looked like a lower-body injury. But Anderson not only later returned, he began to rep with the starters at right tackle, where they’ve mostly had Chukwuma Okorafor lately.
Anderson looks to still be in the mix for one of the starting jobs at either tackle spot, which still has yet to solidify in terms of the personnel.
DT Trysten Hill
Hill has a better chance to make the roster now than he did coming into camp, now that the Patriots have a lot of snaps to replace with Christian Barmore out. Hill combined with linebacker Joe Giles-Harris for a run-stuff during 11-on-11, but he also looked to be charged with an offside penalty during the two-minute drill. Still, it’s notable to see the 2019 second-round pick getting looks on defense.
LB Matthew Judon
Judon stood out because he participated in full pads for the first time in camp, after sitting out the first two sessions earlier this week. He did in fact participate in 11-on-11, which is a good sign for just his general standing with the team. Now, we wait for the contract.
S Jaylinn Hawkins
Hawkins stood out Friday because he got an extended look with the starting defense in team drills, mainly as a deep safety, and even made a play. During an 11-on-11 hurry-up offense, the offense threatened for the end zone, but Hawkins got in front of Austin Hooper in the end zone and broke up a would-be touchdown pass from Brissett. A positive day for Hawkins, who looks like a prime candidate to make the team as a free safety at the moment.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
