The New England Patriots held their fourth practice of 2023 training camp on Sunday in Foxboro, their first in comfortable weather and last before putting on full pads for the first time. Here’s a list of players in all three phases of the game that stood out to us, for various reasons…
QB Bailey Zappe
New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe throws a pass at 2023 minicamp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Sunday marked the best the Patriots offense has looked in practice in over a year, both the 1’s and 2’s. And while it still doesn’t look like there’s a “competition” at quarterback, Bailey Zappe and the second unit had a particularly good day.
Zappe went 11-of-13 in competitive 11-on-11 drills, which ran plays from outside the red zone for the first time in 2023 camp. That included “touchdowns” to Jalen Hurd, Tre Nixon, and Tyquan Thornton, plus completions to Demario Douglas (4), Pierre Strong (2), Kevin Harris, and another to Thornton (more on him below).
Zappe showed good touch and accuracy on his red zone passes, particularly the throws to Hurd and Thornton in the back corners of the end zone. He did throw an interception to Jalen Mills on his final pass attempt of 11-v-11, but it was the only real blemish on some efficient, productive team sessions for Zappe and the No. 2 offense.
New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe does a footwork drill during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Zappe has already impressed with his poise, going back to his time filling in as the starter in his rookie year. But despite that, he says he’s going into year 2 significantly more comfortable.
“Oh I mean, about 100 percent more,” Zappe said after practice. “It’s a night-and-day difference for me. Just speaking from a defensive standpoint, being able to see defenses pre- and post-snap has been the biggest thing for me.
“And I think that translates to meeting with both Bills, watching more film, kind of just diving into the playbook and everything. It’s kind of slowed the game down for me.”
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
New England Patriots wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster makes a catch during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Smith-Schuster caught two passes from Mac Jones in 11-on-11, with a third target broken up by rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez. One of his catches came after Jones escaped the pocket and threw while running to his right, a good sign for Smith-Schuster to be a safety valve over the middle of the field.
Where Smith-Schuster also stood out was during a side session with Jones and various other pass-catchers. Working on various two-receiver route combinations in the red zone, the Pats rotated Smith-Schuster with DeVante Parker, Hunter Henry, and Kendrick Bourne.
The team looks to be working to find connections that work specifically with Smith-Schuster. If all goes well for him, he could emerge as the “engine” of the offense like Julian Edelman was late in the Tom Brady era.
WR Tyquan Thornton
Tyquan Thornton at New England Patriots training camp. (Alex Barth/98.5 The Sports Hub)
Good news: Thornton caught his first two passes in 11-on-11 after a silent start to training camp. Possibly bad news: those catches came while Thornton repped with Zappe and the 2’s.
If this was simply a case of Thornton needing a confidence boost, then he should’ve gotten it after Sunday. We’ll see on Monday if Thornton’s drop to the second unit becomes a trend.
TE Mike Gesicki
New England Patriots tight end Mike Gesicki makes a catch during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Gesicki could’ve used a catch under his belt as well, and he got them, with two consecutive grabs from Mac Jones in red zone 11-on-11. His first catch was impressive, as he leapt in the back of the end zone to beat tight coverage from Kyle Dugger. Just in time for full pads, Gesicki is on the board.
WR Demario Douglas
Jul 26, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas (60) makes a catch during training camp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Douglas was a beneficiary of Thornton’s time with the 2’s, drawing one target from Mac Jones in 11-on-11. The throw missed a little high. But Douglas also ran a lot with the backup offense and caught four balls from Bailey Zappe. He’s a guy to watch in full pads, as the physicality ramps up in the secondary.
WR Jalen Hurd
New England Patriots wide receiver Jalen Hurd makes a catch during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
The most recent addition to the Patriots’ wide receiver room, Hurd made his first big piece of noise on Sunday when he made arguably the catch of the day. Diving back in the end zone, Hurd reeled in a well-placed ball from Zappe and made sure to touch both feet in bounds as he crashed to the turf and maintained control. Finally healthy after a rough first few years in the injury department, Hurd might be ready to compete for a spot at the bottom of the roster.
RB Kevin Harris
New England Patriots running back Kevin Harris runs a drill during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Harris caught our eyes when he caught a pass from Mac Jones with the No. 1 offense, as he blew by Ja’Whaun Bentley in the flat. The second-year back out of South Carolina has slipped a bit in terms of reps in recent practices, so that was a well-timed playmaking moment for him.
CB Jack Jones
New England Patriots cornerback Jack Jones sprints during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
For the first time all camp, Jack JonesĀ got meaningful snaps in 11-on-11 with the starting defense. Jones lined up at left corner opposite Gonzalez, as the Pats ran “Big Nickel” with Dugger, Adrian Phillips, and Jabrill Peppers at safety.
Jones has a hearing set for Aug. 18 in his gun possession case, but for now, he’s been out there every day for the Patriots. As long as he’s available, he should be able to play a significant role at corner.
S Jalen Mills
New England Patriots cornerback Jalen Mills works out at 2023 minicamp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Mills gets a nod for making an interception for the lone lowlight of Zappe’s day in team drills. Mills jumped the route to pick off a short pass intended for tight end Scotty Washington. Mills is converting back to safety after playing cornerback for the Pats in 2022, so it’ll be interesting to see how he rotates in with a deep group.
LB Marte Mapu
Jun 12, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Marte Mapu (52) pulls a sled at the Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Mapu has been standing out all spring and summer because of his red non-contact jersey, but also because of the multiple ways he’s been used on the field. On Sunday, he took at least one snap at middle linebacker with the starting defense, with Bentley lining up on the edge.
We’ll see how Mapu is actually used in real games as a rookie, but the Patriots seem to see potential for him in a number of different roles.
TE Anthony Firkser
New England Patriots tight end Anthony Firkser heads to the practice field during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (98.5 The Sports Hub)
Firkser stood out for the first time in training camp because of his presence in the aforementioned side session with the quarterbacks and two-receiver sets. That group also included Smith-Schuster, Parker, Bourne, Thornton, Henry, and Gesicki.
We believe the Pats will carry a third tight end on the 53-man roster, giving Firkser an opportunity as he competes with Matt Sokol, Washington, and Johnny Lumpkin.
K Chad Ryland
New England Patriots kicker Chad Ryland warms up during 2023 minicamp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Ryland was the primary field goal kicker in team drills, as the Patriots appeared to simulate a two-minute drill or similar situation requiring a late kick. Honorable mention goes to fellow rookie Bryce Baringer, who was the primary holder. The competitions at both kicker and punter, with the rookies going against veteran Nick Folk and fourth-year pro Corliss Waitman, continue to be intriguing.
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 after popping up in 11-on-11 run blocking drills with the starters. Sokol blocked in-line on multiple snaps. The Pats are likely going to want a strong blocker in that third TE spot, so Sokol may be on the right track to earning it.
DB Isaiah Bolden
New England Patriots defensive back Isaiah Bolden pulls a sled at 2023 minicamp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Bolden stood out on Sunday because he got reps with the second defense. The 2’s are worth watching as much as the starters in team drills, because many of these players will not just make the team but play considerable roles.
If Bolden can emerge as a reserve cornerback, he could have a path to making the main roster as a seventh-round rookie.
OL Kody Russey
New England Patriots center Kody Russey works with a weight bag during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
We found this interesting: during a shotgun passing drill with the quarterbacks, Russey was the center. This took place with the passing game skill players, while starting center David Andrews worked on run-blocking with the starting line at the other end of the field.
Russey looks like a real candidate to serve as the backup center in 2023. It may be his best shot at the main roster, but even if he doesn’t make it, he’ll be a strong practice squad candidate.
