After five straight fully padded practices the New England Patriots dialed it back on Wednesday with another walkthrough style practice. While the tempo was slowed, the session did provide an updated look at the depth chart as work was split between two fields.
Here’s what went down throughout the session.
Attendance
Absent: WR Romeo Doubs (new), CB Carlton Davis III, TE Jack Westover, OG Caedan Wallace, WR Cameron Dorner
Returnee: FB Reggie Gilliam (rest), TE C.J. Dippre (PUP)
PUP/NFI: ED Harold Landry III, S
Brenden Schooler
Wide receiver Romeo Doubs was a new absence during Wednesday’s walkthrough while the rest of the attendance list remained the same beyond fullback Reggie Gilliam (rest) returning. Gilliam shared his managed workload this summer was due to nagging injuries from recent years.
Tight end C.J. Dippre was present at practice in uniform for the first time this summer indicating that he has been activated off the PUP list.
Takeaways
Chism and the WRs: With Romeo Doubs sidelined, Efton Chism III was the biggest beneficiary seeing plenty of snaps in the veteran’s place with the first-team offense — often sharing the field with A.J. Brown and DeMario Douglas. Chism’s ability to play/backup multiple wide receiver spots in the offense and him being counted on for his run blocking ability in packages with the first-team offense this camp has him on the path towards a roster spot.
Drake Maye largely worked with A.J. Brown, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, Douglas, and Chism, while Kyle Williams originally started on the opposite field before working with Maye later on as the entire offense gathered together.
RB rotation: Two days after being activated off the NFI list, Terrell Jennings joined Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson with Maye’s offense. Jennings is New England’s only depth running back with NFL experience and may have an early lead on the RB3 spot.
Lan Larison, Jam Miller, and Myles Montgomery then repped on the opposite field.
Rookie corners: As Carlton Davis remained absent, Charles Woods continued to operate as the top cornerback opposite of Christian Gonzalez. A pair of rookies in Karon Prunty and Channing Canada then worked in behind them with the first-team defense. Since the pads came on, Prunty has been around the ball often while Canada has also been competitive in coverage — although was on the wrong side of multiple completions in Tuesday’s session. Both seem to be trending upward as the team looks for depth behind their top corners.
Special teams: Plenty of special teams work throughout the walkthrough. With the kicking game playing a big factor for those fighting for roster spots, the units included:
- Top punt block: Reggie Gilliam, Khalil Jacobs, Chad Muma, Elijah Ponder, Namdi Obiazor, Terrell Jennings
- Personal protectors: Mike Brown (top), Dell Pettus
- Kick returners: Kyle Williams and Terrell Jennings, Efton Chism III and Lan Larison, Kobe Prentice, Myles Montgomery, Channing Canada, DeMario Douglas
Other notes:
- Offensive tackle Will Campbell wore a Rob Gronkowski-like arm brace on his left arm.
- The top two offensive lines remained the same: Campbell-Vera-Tucker-Wilson-Onwenu-Moses and Bryant-Rupcich-Brown-Hudson-Lomu.
- Gabe Jacas largely worked with the second-team defense and punt block unit.
- Dell Pettus mixed in behind Craig Woodson and Kevin Byard, perhaps signaling he has elevated to the No. 3 safety.
- They ended practice repping Hail Mary situations.
- The Patriots will be back on the practice fields on Thursday where they will be back in shells, which is set to begin at 10:15 a.m. ET.
