The New England Patriots entered the fields behind Gillette Stadium on Saturday for their first practice of training camp. It was an eventful start to the summer for the reigning AFC champions.
To recap the action, please make sure to check out our Patriots training camp notebook. In the meantime, here is who caught our eye during the 90-minute session.
Standout of the day
WR Kayshon Boutte: Despite trade rumors and the arrivals of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte reported to training camp alongside his teammates
and quickly showed why he has been one of Drake Maye’s favorite receivers going back to the QB’s rookie season. During early 11-on-11 work, Maye unleashed a deep ball down the left sideline and hit Boutte on a go route for a gain of approximately 40 yards.
“It’s nothing new,” Maye said after practice. “You guys have seen it all year last year, and the year before. He just keeps doing things right. I’m proud of him for getting in there, jumping in there. He understands if he’s got something down the sideline, and a ball down the field, that he’s got a chance it’s coming his way. Great catch.”
Other performances of note
QB Tommy DeVito: The quarterbacks did not get a lot of work on Saturday, but backup Tommy DeVito still managed to produce a rough start. He went 0-for-3 on the day and struggled particularly during his first series on the field. No turnovers are a positive, but that’s about it.
WR DeMario Douglas: The momentum train keeps rolling for the Patriots’ fourth-year receiver. After already being actively involved during the spring, Douglas continued to play a sizable role in the team’s passing offense on Day 1 of camp. He hauled in two passes from Drake Maye and was heavily involved as a slot receiver alongside the aforementioned A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs when New England went to 11-personnel.
CB Christian Gonzalez: It took exactly one snap for the Patriots’ starts to collide on Saturday. His first pass attempt of the session saw Drake Maye target A.J. Brown with Gonzalez in coverage. The soon-to-be highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, however, was up for the challenge and provided tight man coverage that helped the ball fall to the ground incomplete. Gonzalez was not seriously tested the rest of the session, but he did participate fully which is a positive development after minicamp.
S Mike Brown: The Patriots’ offseason pickup saw action with the starter-level defense in nickel packages, serving as the third safety alongside Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson. It’s early, but this usage is a positive for Brown and suggests that he might be more than a special teamer for New England — even though he did get beat by DeMario Douglas at one point.
The Patriots will hold their second practice of training camp on Sunday. Gates will open at 9:15 p.m. ET with the session set to start an hour later.
