Wednesday’s joint session between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles was probably as close to a game atmosphere as you can get in practice. Thousands of spectators were in the stands, and they saw an entertaining two-hour affair — one that featured plenty of positive moments for the Patriots.
To recap, please head over to our Patriots training camp notebook. In the meantime, here is who caught our eye for better or worse.
Standout of the day
QB Drake Maye: The NFL MVP runner-up very much looked the part
on Wednesday and was the best player on the field for either team. It was not just going 4-for-6 in 7-on-7s and 16-of-19 in 11-on-11s, but also the way he spread the ball around, maneuvered around the pocket, and hit downfield throws especially to his top four targets, A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, and Kayshon Boutte. Maye was in command throughout the day and gave the Eagles defense all it could handle, and more.
Other performances of note
WR A.J. Brown: Probably the biggest story of the week is Brown’s reunion with the team that traded him to New England earlier this offseason. On Wednesday, the veteran receiver was quite busy and the top pass catcher on either side. He finished with seven receptions during team work, including four in 11-on-11s. His connections with Drake Maye included a pair of downfield receptions as well as two slants.
The run game: Despite the Eagles defensive line being one of the better units in the league, the Patriots offensive line held its own particularly in the ground game. With the left side of Will Campbell and Alijah Vera-Tucker leading the way, New England opened some holes for a very good Rhamondre Stevenson. The run defense, on the other hand, was not up to the same level. Setting the edge in particular remains a concern, while Saquon Barkley found some serious holes on multiple occasions.
DT Milton Williams: A.J. Brown was not the only ex-Eagle going up against his former team on Wednesday. Williams did as well, and like Brown had a very good day. He set the tone from his position at the heart of the defensive line, and consistently showcased his disruption — including at one point when he put Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson on skates. His ability to create chaos also prevented New England’s run defense from having an even worse day.
S Craig Woodson: The Patriots secondary had an appetite for big play on Wednesday, and no player was hungrier than Woodson. The second-year safety picked off a pair of passes and registered a sack, and continues to be well on his way to making a sizable Year 2 jump next as the starter next to veteran Kevin Byard. Also notching interceptions were cornerbacks Marcus Jones and Kindle Vildor as well as safety John Saunders Jr, who all had one INT each. The fast-rising Sanders Jr. has now had three picks in three days going against another team this summer.
K Andy Borregales: He did miss his first kick on the day, hitting the uprights on a 33-yard attempt. He responded by making his next six to close out the session, including three from beyond 50 yards: he split the uprights on two 52-yard field goals and one 57-yarder. That kick plus one of the 52-yarders came in high-pressure situations simulating the end of the game. Unlike in the preseason opener, Borregales was up to the challenge this time.
Other players worth highlighting include Lan Larison, DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams. The former looked solid working as a receiver out of the backfield, while the latter two dominated their 1-on-1s: Douglas beat Cooper DeJean on all three of their reps, while Williams went 3-0 against Kelee Ringo. On the flip side, Hassan Haskins lost a fumble while Kayshon Boutte tipped a Tommy DeVito pass that ended up intercepted. Will Campbell, meanwhile, had an up-and-down day that include a bad loss in 1-on-1s but plenty of solid reps as well.
The two team will be back on the practice fields on Thursday for what will be the final open practice of this year’s Patriots training camp. The session is again scheduled to begin at 10:15 a.m. ET.
