Patriots training camp notebook: Back to work on Day 12
New England Patriots training camp resumed on Sunday, as the team gets ready for its second preseason game of the year.
Three days after their preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers, the New England Patriots were back on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium. Patriots training camp continued on Sunday, with the first of three practices for the team before their preseason Week 2 matchup against the Eagles at Gillette this Thursday.
Sunday wasn’t a day for players to ease back into things after having Saturday off. It was another fully-padded, high-intensity practice – the kind the Patriots have run for most of the summer.
Who stood out on Sunday? What were the big storylines? Let’s take a look with the latest Patriots training camp notebook…
Quarterback check-in
Jacoby Brissett got into a rhythm early on Sunday and didn’t look back. The ball rarely hit the ground when he was under center as he completed nine of his 12 pass attempts in 11-on-11s. Brissett’s highlight throw came in a red zone period, when he rolled to his right and threw on the run to hit K.J. Osborn in a tight window in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. After practice Osborn said the Patriots installed that play this morning, and that he was Brissett’s third read.
As for Drake Maye, he had an up-and-down day performance-wise but was given more opportunities by the coaching staff. He got the lone two-minute (really 1:21) drive of practice, and was able to get the offense into field goal range. He was 11-of-19 in 11-on-11 work but did have some bad misses. He also had a throw in the red zone that was tipped at the line by Anfernee Jennings then intercepted by Armon Watts on the deflection.
Overall, the coaches seemed to make a point of getting both Brissett and Maye more reps after their limited playing time on Thursday. Joe Milton and Bailey Zappe only got one drive each in full-squad team drills (7-on-7), spending most of the day repping on a side field. That allowed more snaps for both Brissett and Maye. Brissett getting the starting reps but Maye out-repping him in total – albeit with the second team – is more reminiscent to how the Patriots handled Cam Newton and Mac Jones in 2021.
Offensive line update
The big update on the offensive line from Sunday is…there is no update. It was the same group that we saw against the Panthers working with the top offense, with Vederian Lowe at left tackle and Chuks Okorafor at right tackle. Jerod Mayo had given the second preseason game as the cutoff point for when the Patriots wanted to be set on their offensive line. With that now five days away, it’s looking more and more like this will be the group the Patriots start the season with.
There was one change further down the depth chart on Sunday. Liam Fornadel, who was signed out of the UFL as a tackle and had been playing guard for most of this camp, got some reps at center late in practice in team drills.
Judon jumps out
Matthew Judon was limited for most of Patriots training camp last week, but returned to action in team drills on Sunday. His presence was immediately felt, as he knocked down a Jacoby Brissett throw at the line of scrimmage on one of the first plays of practice. He’d go on to record a few pass rush pressures as well.
As long as Judon’s contract situation remains unsettled, it will be a topic of conversation around the team. However, he showed on Sunday that he can still bring it on the field when he is taking part in live action.
WATCH: Patriots Training Camp Day 12 video recap
Bolden in the slot
In our roster projection following Thursday’s game, we highlighted how Shaun Wade’s path to the roster is mainly based on his experience in the slot compared to the Patriots’ other depth cornerbacks, and that the best way for a player like Isaiah Bolden or Marcellas Dial to secure a roster spot would be showing they could handle slot reps.
Right on cue, Bolden got significant time in the slot on Sunday. He was the most-used player in that position, and held his own. That’s just from one practice, but it was a very encouraging day for the second-year cornerback out of Jackson State.
UDFA gets more playing time
UDFA safety Dell Pettus closed last week’s block of practices strong, then was one of the better performers in the Patriots’ preseason opener as he was on the field for most of the second half. Clearly, the coaches have liked what they’ve seen from Pettus, as his role seemed to grow at practice on Sunday. Pettus worked more into the top defensive back rotation, playing both deep safety and in the box. He nearly had a diving interception on a deflected Drake Maye pass, but the refs in attendance ruled the ball hit the ground first.
One-on-ones
The Patriots ran a one-on-one period on Sunday, with wide receivers facing cornerbacks and running backs and tight ends facing linebackers and safeties. Here are some of the standout winners…
Jalen Reagor over Christian Gonzalez
AJ Thomas over Jacob Warren
Kayshon Boutte over Alex Austin
Rhamondre Stevenson over Raekwon McMillan
Ja’Whaun Bentley over Antonio Gibson (intercepted)
JaQuae Jackson over Mikey Victor
Mitchell Wilcox over Jaylinn Hawkins
Marco Wilson over Ja’Lynn Polk
Tyquan Thornton over Marcellas Dial
Jalen Reagor over Azizi Hearn
Shaun Wade over Kayshon Boutte
Ja’Lynn Polk over Christian Gonzalez
Pressure on the kickers
On Friday, Jerod Mayo called the Patriots’ kicker competition “wide open.” At Sunday’s practice, the coaching staff upped the ante for both kickers.
Throughout Patriots training camp, most days have ended with each kicker attempting four field goals from various distances. They did that again today but the environment wasn’t what it’s been. The music was turned up as loud as it’s been all summer, and the players encouraged the crowd in attendance to make as much noise as possible. Then, the players besides the 22 involved in the play all crowded around the kicker and holder in a semi-circle, and yelled and waived their arms and jumped up and down in their field of vision as they attempted their kicks.
Each kicker got four kicks during this period, from 37, 43, 48, and 52 yards. Slye went 3-for-4, missing just left from 48. Ryland went 2-for-4, missing right from 48 and 52 yards.
In addition to those four kicks, Slye also attempted and made a 53-yarder at the end of Drake Maye’s timed drive earlier in practice. For the summer, Chad Ryland is now 28-of-33 (with his 48 yard miss being his first miss in the 40-yard range this camp) while Slye is 27-of-33 (and a perfect 4-for-4 from 50-plus).
Hang times
Sunday was another good day for punter Bryce Baringer, who was getting punts downed inside the 10 at a regular rate. Here are his hang times…
4.51 seconds
4.52
4.51
4.33
3.97
4.46
4.23
4.52
4.39
Referees
In another sign we’re closer to real game action, the Patriots had a referee crew on hand for Sunday’s practice. That will likely be the case all week, leading up to joint practices on Tuesday. The crew, led by veteran crew chief Shawn Smith, was definitely needed on Sunday with multiple close plays in team drills.
Attendance
The biggest personnel note from Sunday involves tight end Hunter Henry. Henry limped off after a rep in team drills early in practice, went back to the athletic training area behind the practice fields where he was worked on, and didn’t return to practice. His situation will be one to monitor in the coming days.
As for outright absences, UDFA defensive lineman John Morgan was lone new absence after Thursday’s game. Defensive backs Marcus Jones and Marte Mapu, as well as defensive lineman Christian Barmore remain out.
What’s next?
Patriots training camp resumes on Monday. Expect it to be somewhat of a ramp-up day ahead of the joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday.
