The New England Patriots held their sixth open practice of 2023 training camp on Tuesday in Foxboro. Here’s who stood out to us on the field, for various reasons…
QB Mac Jones
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones throws a pass at minicamp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
On the same day that Bill Belichick declined another opportunity to commit to Mac Jones as his starting quarterback for 2023, the incumbent went out and had perhaps his best practice of camp so far.
I charted Jones at 8-of-11 in the most competitive 11-on-11 drills, and only one incompletion was an inaccurate throw, a deep pass intended for Kendrick Bourne that looked slightly overthrown. The other two were pass breakups in which the receivers needed to put up a better fight for the ball.
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones looks to make a pass during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Jones had a bit of a shaky start to camp in terms of his decision-making and ball security, but he’s been much improved in those departments in recent practices, and it’s translated to more productive team drills. He also seems to be keeping his cool under duress – which albeit is hard to evaluate in mostly non-padded practices – but it’s notable that Jones is mindful of how his composure (or lack thereof) can trickle down to everyone else on the offense.
“For me, I’m just trying to be really consistent, try not to ride the wave, just stay my course and hopefully, everybody on our offense feels that, too,” Jones said last Wednesday. “I think Coach O’Brien does a great job laying out what we do well so far, and we’re going to learn every day what we do well and then from there, you just keep moving forward and execute the plan. So, I’m definitely excited for that.”
WR DeVante Parker
New England Patriots wide receiver DeVante Parker makes a catch during training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Parker had a highlight and a lowlight on Tuesday, so needless to say, he earned some ink in the ol’ notebook. He and Jones connected for the best pass play of the day, a well-placed ball about 20-30 yards down the left sideline that Parker went up and got over rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Hopefully we see a lot of those in the regular season.
Unfortunately, Parker also had a potential “touchdown” catch broken up in a late red zone 11-on-11 period. He was waiting for the ball to come to him, but cornerback Jack Jones was there to get a hand in the way. It’s not the first time Parker lost a contested battle to a smaller corner. He needs to fight for the ball more in those situations.
TE Hunter Henry
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry runs a drill during minicamp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Henry helped the offense close practice strong with a touchdown catch over the middle of the end zone on the final play of competitive 11-on-11. He caught three passes total from Jones in 11’s, and overall has been the Pats’ most consistently productive pass-catcher in practice.
A top red zone threat and legitimate option down the seam, Henry looks poised for a big bounceback year under Bill O’Brien and a more confident quarterback throwing him the ball.
RB Pierre Strong Jr.
New England Patriots running back Pierre Strong Jr. makes a leaping catch during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Mac Jones and Bill O’Brien worked on downfield passing in one side session, with a group that included most projected starters. Strong was included in that group, with Rhamondre Stevenson as the other running back. Strong later caught four short passes from Zappe between 7-on-7 and 11-on-11, so it was an active and productive day for him.
TE Matt Sokol
New England Patriots tight end Matt Sokol makes a catch while running a drill at 2023 minicamp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Sokol gets another nod because he caught a pass from Jones in 11-on-11, and another from Zappe with the 2’s. He’s also getting plenty of reps as an in-line blocking tight end with the starting offensive line. I have Sokol in the lead for a possible third tight end spot on the roster.
CB Jack Jones
New England Patriots cornerback Jack Jones sprints during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Jones appears on this list because of that aforementioned pass breakup against Parker. He got off to a slow start to camp in terms of reps, and it’s unclear whether that had anything to do with his pending legal matter. But the truth is Jones is among the most purely talented players on the Patriots’ roster, certainly at outside cornerback. So, he should continue to get starter reps, as long as he’s going to be available.
CB Marcus Jones
New England Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones trains with a resistance rope during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Jones caught everyone’s eyes when he jumped a route and nearly intercepted a Mac Jones pass intended for JuJu Smith-Schuster during the first 7-on-7 period of practice. It looked like Mac didn’t see Marcus, but the cornerback also deserves credit for putting up a fight for the ball.
CB Myles Bryant
New England Patriots cornerback Myles Bryant works out at 2023 minicamp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Bryant got some reps with the starting defense in 11-on-11, but mainly ran with the 2’s, and broke up a late pass attempt from Zappe intended for tight end Anthony Firkser. Firkser appeared to have a catch, but Bryant kept playing and knocked the ball out, which drew cheers from his teammates on the sidelines that were right there.
LB Mack Wilson Sr.
New England Patriots linebacker Mack Wilson Jr. trains with a resistance rope during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Wilson had two pass breakups on Tuesday, including one where he leaped and got a hand on an intermediate ball intended for Gesicki. The Patriots have tried multiple guys at middle linebacker and could still use playmaking in an off-the-ball role. Wilson was their best chance at that last year, and he may still be that option this year.
S Joshuah Bledsoe
Safety Joshuah Bledsoe of the New England Patriots practices during 2023 mandatory minicamp in Foxboro. (Matt Dolloff/98.5 The Sports Hub)
Bledsoe intercepted a Trace McSorely pass attempt during a late red zone 11-on-11 session. The 2021 sixth-round pick is languishing behind a deep, talented safety group and could be fighting for a job, so he deserves credit whenever he makes a nice play.
OG Atonio Mafi
Atonio Mafi of the New England Patriots takes the field before practice at 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Credit: 98.5 The Sports Hub)(Credit: 98.5 The Sports Hub)
For the second straight day, Mafi repped with the starters at left guard in Cole Strange’s absence. We’ll see if Mafi plays at all once Strange is ready to return, let alone whether he’s any good. But the Patriots are showing a notable level of trust in the rookie fifth-round pick.
