After mixing it up with each other for the first two weeks on training camp, the Patriots went toe-to-toe with the Carolina Panthers for day 1 of joint practices leading up to their preseason Week 2 tilt on Friday. Here are some of the highlights from what was happening down at Gillette Stadium!:
How'd the offense look?
Matt Patricia is calling plays to Mac Jones in 11v11s
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) August 16, 2022Patriots TEs in 1v1s vs Panthers
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) August 16, 2022
Devin Asiasi 3-1
Matt Sokol 3-1
Jonnu Smith 0-3, drop
(No reps for Hunter Henry)Takeaways from #Patriots #Panthers 1-on-1 linemen drills
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandallNESN) August 16, 2022
Cole Strange had trouble with Frank Herron and Marquis Haynes
Cajuste had a good rep but also was beaten clean by Austin Larkin
More good work from Arlington Hambright and Mike OnwenuThornton toasts the #Panthers defense again in 11’s on a deep crosser.
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) August 16, 2022
Great throw from Hoyer. Thornton continues to impress.Devin Asiasi's hands have been shaky lately. Had a drop the other day and just fumbled in 7-on-7s.
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) August 16, 2022
Seeing a lot of run today with Hunter Henry leaving practice early.Jonnu Smith also fumbled after getting popped by a Panthers defender. https://t.co/vCdySrnYCz
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) August 16, 2022Jakobi Meyers also fumbled out of bounds after a catch from Brian Hoyer
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) August 16, 2022Patriots offense stalls at 17, as with 5 seconds left on clock, Mac Jones is pressured and throws up a prayer that is intercepted near the goal line.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 16, 2022
This reflected how both teams’ defenses primarily had the upper hand in this practice. https://t.co/8OOwpwZK3kPatriots offense was solid today. Panthers practiced very physical and chippy. Pats responded by making positive plays (plus two fights with three different players.)
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) August 16, 2022
Mac Jones goes 21/30 (70%), INT in 11v11s and 7/10 in 7v7s
Brian Hoyer goes 12/17 in 11v11s and 1/3 in 7v7sAlthough the run game still needs work, thought this was the most aggressive/successful downfield passing day for Mac Jones and the starting offense. Couple high-point fades to Parker and a nice corner route to Meyers stand out. #Patriots
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) August 16, 2022Improvement from Patriots first team offense today vs Panthers. Wasn’t great but better. Made some plays down the field against Carolina’s zone scheme that blitzes 2x all day.
— Greg A. Bedard (@GregABedard) August 16, 2022Patriots defense was solid
Marcus Jones won all three of his reps that I saw, including an aggressive PBU vs. Derek Wright.
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) August 16, 2022
Kyle Dugger had an INT.
Jakobi Meyers elevated for a nice catch over Sean Chandler.Also saw a handful of strong reps for Jalen Mills. Locked up Robbie Anderson a few times. #Patriots
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) August 16, 2022The #Patriots defense is all over the Carolina run game.
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 16, 2022
Matt Judon, Davon Godchaux, Christian Barmore and Anfernee Jennings all have run stuffs already in this first 11-on-11 period.Matthew Judon off to a strong start against Panthers offense in 11-on-11s. Just had what would've at least a five-yard run loss after bursting through line. Was fired up after.
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandallNESN) August 16, 2022McCaffrey had a few good gainers for Carolina 1s in run-heavy 11s. But the #Patriots got them back with a Barmore stuff, Jennings stuff, and a Judon TFL where he beat the outside zone block by jumping inside.
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) August 16, 2022Panthers had a hard time running vs. the Patriots' top D in the first 11-on-11 period. Several players had run stuffs, including a big TFL by Matthew Judon.
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) August 16, 2022
Justin Bethel also had a "sack" that forced a Sam Darnold throwaway.#Patriots CB Jalen Mills was really impressive in 11-on-11s. Didn’t allow a catch on three targets to Panthers WRs Robbie Anderson and D.J. Moore (x2).
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) August 16, 2022In a simulated 2-minute drill with starters, the Panthers’ offense used a Christian McCaffrey wheel route to get down to the goal line. However, the Patriots’ defense got a Deatrich Wise sack, Jalen Mills goal line PBU, and forced incompletion to win the period
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) August 16, 2022Patriots defensive players are eating right now. Nothing happening for Baker Mayfield in the red zone.
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) August 16, 2022In the Panthers' 2-minute drill for Sam Darnold, DT LaBryan Ray tipped a pass and CB Shaun Wade intercepted it near the goal line.
— Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis) August 16, 2022FIGHT!!!!
Video of one of the big fights between the #Patriots and #Panthers at joint practice.pic.twitter.com/XSFEgRY4vL
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 16, 2022We got a fight between the Panthers and Patriots in practice today 👀 pic.twitter.com/2tShm51Tas
— Action Network NFL (@ActionNetNFL) August 16, 2022Big fight here. Kristian Wilkerson was on the bottom of it for the Patriots after getting hit while making a catch. We’ll see who gets tossed.
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) August 16, 2022
And yes, the ref threw a flagFight! Big scrap between the Patriots' offense and Panthers' defense after a Kristian Wilkerson catch along the sideline.
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) August 16, 2022
Kendrick Bourne came in throwing punches. Also looked like Cole Strange was in the middle of it.Panthers CB Kenny Robinson and Patriots WRs Kendrick Bourne and Kristian Wilkerson were booted from practice. https://t.co/B02MRATtni
— Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis) August 16, 2022FIGHT!
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 16, 2022
Kristian Wilkerson finished a catch in the Carolina bench and a few Panthers DBs had a couple extra words and bumps for him, as they did in the prior drill.
Both teams swarmed on to the field, Wilkerson had his helmet ripped off and Kendrick Bourne threw a few punches.We got a fracas! Started with kristian Wilkerson near Carolina sideline. Some jawing ensued and then Panthers lost minds. Pats offense came across field to join. It settled. Then Kendrick Bourne ended up throwing a punch after squaring off. Bourne and Wilkerson now tossed off.
— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) August 16, 2022Somehow the only Panther ejected from practice is Kenny Robinson. Both Bourne and Wilkerson were ejected as well
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) August 16, 2022Here’s how I saw it: Wilkerson caught an out route from Mac Jones and ended up in the Panthers bench area. A Carolina coach appeared to give Wilkerson a slight push as if to say, “back to your huddle.” Wilkerson whipped his head back and said something. Immediately got jumped. https://t.co/OObFViUF2G
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) August 16, 2022Another fight broke out a few minutes later between Patriots center James Ferentz and Panthers DT Phil Hoskins. They’ve both been ejected, as well. https://t.co/MDbpTRK7Hs
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) August 16, 2022
