Following their first off day of training camp, the New England Patriots were back to work on Thursday and donned full pads for the first time this summer as work transitioned into the red zone.
Here’s what went down on the rainy practice fields behind Gillette Stadium.
Attendance
Absent: CB Carlton Davis (new), CB Brandon Crossley (new)
PUP/NFI: ED Gabe Jacas, RB Terrell Jennings, TE C.J. Dippre, ED Harold Landry III, S Brenden Schooler
Injuries: N/A
The Patriots saw a pair of new absences in their secondary on Thursday,
as Carlton Davis and Brandon Crossley were absent. Davis left Tuesday’s session early. Rhamondre Stevenson and Charles Woods, both who also left last practice early with apparent heat issues, were back on the field.
Takeaways
Maye and Brown: After a shaky start to the summer, Drake Maye and A.J. Brown had their best day of practice together in the red zone — where they showcased early chemistry back in minicamp. The duo was in sync for much of the day as Maye was 4-of-5 targeting Brown with at two touchdowns coming on slants, while the lone incompletion came with Christian Gonzalez in coverage.
The pair also had a pretty connection in 1-on-1s with Maye perfectly dropping a fade route in the bucket as Brown was in the back left corner of the end zone.
“I know everybody tracks the numbers and everything else. I’m confident that they will continue to progress,” Mike Vrabel said of the chemistry between the two prior to practice. “Again, it’s good work. It’s good competitive work out there, and guys are in tight coverage or challenging and whatever that may be.
“I’m really confident that that relationship will continue to grow, and A.J. will have plenty of opportunities to help us.”
Year 2 receivers: Brown was not the only receiver to shine on Thursday, as second-year pros Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III found the end zone on numerous occasions. Williams was on scene for two of the day’s highlights working with Tommy DeVito: beating Kobee Minor off the line of scrimmage before hauling in a touchdown through contact and then later snagging a one handed back shoulder fade and getting a knee in bounds for another score.
Shortly after Williams’ second score, Chism got on the board by working back to the ball and going up-and-over Mike Brown for a touchdown. The shifty wideout also had multiple wins in 1-on-1 work as he remains a tough cover.
Elsewhere at wide receiver, it was the quietest day of the summer for DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte as they each went without a target in team work. Romeo Doubs then had just one catch from Maye, while UDFA Cameron Dorner hauled in an impressive touchdown catch from Behren Morton over Karon Prunty.
Gonzo’s participation: Asked Tuesday whether he would continue to practice in full as work transitioned to full pads, Christian Gonzalez replied, “I’ll be out there.”
Out there he was on Thursday and the cornerback remained a full participant in all periods. Gonzalez’s strong start to camp contemned as well as he started his day in 1-on-1s with a pass breakup against A.J. Brown, who got him back on the aforementioned fade, and forced two incompletions against Kayshon Boutte.
Trench work: The full pad work allowed for our first true look at the Patriots offensive and defensive lines. New England’s starting offensive line held up well in pass protection, but it was the Patriots defensive front that largely controlled the line of scrimmage in the run game.
While rookie Caleb Lomu did record a pancake on his first rep, linebackers Christian Elliss, Robert Spillane, Khalil Jacobs, and Namdi Obiazor and defensive lineman Cory Durden and Leonard Taylor were all in the backfield throughout the day.
Other notes:
- Rookie tight end Eli Raridon continued to be active as a pass catcher hauling in a play-action bootleg touchdown from Drake Maye and a later reception in the flat from DeVito.
- UDFA tight end Tanner Arkin also remained with the first team at times and showcased his physicality in the run game.
- Jared Wilson and Drake Maye had one bad exchange where the ball ended up on the ground.
- UDFA edge rusher Xavier Holmes had a noticeable amount of snaps along the edge today working in with Dre’Mont Jones and Elijah Ponder.
- Charles Woods was again first-up to replace the injured Carlton Davis in the secondary. Woods had a pair of pass breakups in 1-on-1s and was notable in run support in full-team periods.
- Punt returners: Marcus Jones, DeMario Douglas, Romeo Doubs, Efton Chism, Kobe Prentice
- Personal protectors: Mike Brown, Peter Manuma, Craig Woodson
- The Patriots will be back to work on Friday where the current expectation is they will be back in full pads. Practice is set to begin at 10:15 a.m. ET.
