The New England Patriots’ second block of training camp practices wrapped up on Tuesday. In a fully-padded practice, the team finished up preparations for Thursday’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans.
As was the case on Monday, the day featured mostly scout-team reps for both the offense and defense, with one side going off of ‘cards.’ That means that rather than running the Patriots’ playbook the other side was looking at a play drawn up on a piece of paper – or card – resembling the Texans’ system. This is how teams practice in the regular season to get ready for opponents.
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With that period, we may have gained some insight into which projected starters will and won’t play on Thursday. As the majority of the projected offensive starters worked against the scout team, a group of players worked separately on a side field. That group included Mac Jones, DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Hunter Henry, and Rhamondre Stevenson. Given those players were limited in their game prep, it’s possible the team doesn’t plan on them playing on Thursday.
This would also line up with something that was said after practice. While Bill Belichick said before practice the team was “still working on” who will play and who won’t on Thursday, starting defensive lineman Deatrich Wise told reporters before practice that although he would like to play, he’s not expecting to.
While select starters weren’t on the field as much during those scout team drills, they still got chances to take competitive reps later in practice. Let’s turn to that as we continue working our way through Day 12…
More situational work
Jun 12, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien works with the team at the Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
The starters versus starters reps on Tuesday came late in practice in some situational-focused drills. Mainly, two-minute and red zone sessions.
Tuesday’s two-minute drill added a new wrinkle we hadn’t seen to this point in camp. In addition to the typical two-minute drill where the offense has to score before time runs out, the team also did a two-minute clock-killing drill, where the offense was running the ball to try and run out the two minutes.
Trent Brown ramps up again
Patriots T Trent Brown takes the field at training camp (Jim Louth/98.5 The Sports Hub)
There were a few small but positive signs for the offense on Tuesday. One of them involved left tackle Trent Brown.
On Monday, Brown took part in positional drills for the first time all camp. After practice he spoke to reporters and confirmed he’s been limited due to injury.
Tuesday, Brown’s role expanded again. He was on the field as the team’s left tackle in a handful of 11-on-11 team drills – a first for him this camp. The Patriots already have enough of a question at the right tackle position, without an obvious answer on the roster. Given that, having Brown making progress on the left side should be seen as a relief.
Tyquan Thornton a standout
Tyquan Thornton at New England Patriots training camp. (Alex Barth/98.5 The Sports Hub)
Few players on the Patriots, if any, have come up shorter of expectations in this training camp than second-year wide receiver Tyquan Thornton. Coming into camp, many were looking for Thornton to take the often-talked-about ‘Year 2 Jump’ and help propel the Patriots’ offense forwards. Instead, he’s been anywhere from a neutral to a negative for the first two weeks.
On Tuesday though Thornton had his best day. He was able to separate from bracket coverage to catch a deep ball from Bailey Zappe early in practice, and later on made a leaping catch over the middle on a ball from Mac Jones, coming down and holding onto the ball through contact – something that had been an issue for him to this point. He also beat rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez clean in a one-on-one.
It’s just one practice, and Thornton still has quite a bit of work to do to dig out of the hole he created with his performance over the first 11 days. We’ll see if he can carry that momentum into the first preseason game.
Catch of the summer?
New England Patriots tight end Mike Gesicki (88) makes a catch during training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
On Monday, rookie wide receiver Kayshon Boutte made what looked like the catch of camp. On Tuesday, Mike Gesicki really turned that into a conversation.
Running along the end line in 11-on-11s, Gesicki was blanketed by tight coverage from Jabrill Peppers and Joshuah Bledsoe. Mac Jones put the ball a bit out ahead of him, and Gesicki reached around Bledsoe in mid-air to catch the ball with one hand, landing in bounds. That drew a massive reaction from the offense and assembled crowd. Even Peppers was smiling after the play, and went up and said something to Gesicki.
That’s the second highlight catch for Gesicki so far this camp – he also had an overhead one-handed catch against Peppers in 1-on-1s earlier this week. Along with those catches, he’s also been more regularly involved in the offense. It’s becoming clear that as he builds chemistry with Mac Jones, he’s finding ways to produce.
One-on-ones
New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas runs a drill during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
With it being another padded practice, the team ran one-on-ones again early in the day. Let’s go through the standouts.
Coming into Tuesday, both Hunter Henry and Demario Douglas were undefeated in one-on-ones. Only one remained that way at the end of the day. Douglas continues to dominate these sessions, which included an epic stack-and-in move against Myles Bryant. However, Henry was 0-for-2 on the day with a drop, with both reps coming against Kyle Dugger.
Other standouts from the passing side of the one-on-ones included two close battles between Rhamondre Stevenson and Ja’Whaun Bentley, both of which were won by Stevenson. Jahlani Tavai had a strong rep against Kevin Harris. Mike Gesicki and Joshuah Bledsoe split a pair of close reps. Tre Nixon continued what’s become a strong week for him. Finally, Quandre Mosley had such tight coverage on Kayshon Boutte on one rep there wasn’t even a throw – a rarity in one-on-ones.
Up front, it was the rookies who stood out. Defensive end Keion White had a couple of wins including one against Conor McDermott. Right tackle Sidy Sow won two reps as well.
Hang times
Punters Corliss Waitman and Bryce Baringer wait on a snap from long snapper Tucker Addington at Patriots training camp. (Alex Barth/98.5 The Sports Hub)
There was a brief team punting period early in practice. Here are the hang times…
Bryce Baringer:
4.82 seconds
4.85
4.35Corliss Waitman:
4.28
4.65Attendance
Matthew Slater practices for the New England Patriots at 2023 OTAs in Foxboro. (Matt Dolloff/98.5 The Sports Hub)
There was only one change from Monday’s attendance on Tuesday for the Patriots, with Matthew Slater returning to practice. Jonathan Jones, Ty Montgomery, Cole Strange, Bill Murray, Mike Onwenu (PUP), Cody Davis (PUP), and Calvin Anderson (NFI) remain out.
Newly-signed defensive end Trey Flowers didn’t take part in Tuesday’s practice with Belichick saying before practice he wouldn’t get on the field right away. After practice, it was reported the Patriots moved Flowers to the PUP list.
What’s next?
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick holds a morning press conference before 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
The Patriots will be off on Wednesday – just their third off day since the start of camp. Then, the preseason begins when the host the Houston Texans on Thursday.
