The most intense stretch of training camp so far this summer is about to come to an end. However, before the Patriots head into a two-day weekend to cap off five straight days of practice, they will go through one more session on the fields behind Gillette Stadium — and it will be a fun one: a team scrimmage.
Here is all you need to know about it.
Schedule
Unlike the last two sessions, Friday’s is open to fans again. As usual, attendance and parking are free.
- 9:30 a.m. ET: Mike Vrabel press conference
- 10:15 a.m. ET: Practice
- ca. 12:15 p.m. ET: Player availability (WR A.J. Brown, TE Eli Raridon, OL Ben Brown, DT Christian Barmore, ED Elijah Ponder, LB Khalil Jacobs)
As always, the schedule is tentative and subject
to change. For more information, please visit our Pats Pulpit Training Camp Guide.
Story of the day
Will the offense bounce back? The Patriots defense won the latter portion of Thursday’s practice by hauling in three straight interceptions, courtesy of Marcus Jones, Kevin Byard and John Saunders Jr. The importance of turnovers in games does not need to be explained, which is why this is a positive for the defense but something the offense will have to find a way to avoid particularly in the two-minute drills that were practiced yesterday.
Injuries to monitor
NFI: S Brenden Schooler
PUP: ED Harold Landry III
Practice absentees: WR Romeo Doubs, CB Carlton Davis III, TE Jack Westover, WR Cameron Dorner
Injured: DL Christian Barmore, CB Charles Woods
After four straight days of practice, the Patriots are starting to show some cracks from a physical perspective. Christian Barmore and Charles Woods both departed Thursday’s session, while left tackle Will Campbell was a limited participant.
Players to watch
Given that practice will be a scrimmage, the whole team will be on display and units split accordingly. This might not allow for as good a look at the depth chart, but will give us an opportunity to assess individual performance.
RB Myles Montgomery: The undrafted free agent saw an uptick in opportunities with the second-stringers on Thursday. Will he keep the momentum alive and possibly enter the conversation for one of the depth spots at the running back position?
OT Caleb Lomu and OT Dametrious Crownover: With Marcus Bryant replacing the ailing Will Campbell at left tackle on Thursday, Lomu was relegated to third-string work at the position (while also playing backup right tackle to Morgan Moses). He was inconsistent, but will get an extended look on Friday. The same should be true for Dametrious Crownover, whole lined up as the second-team LT on Thursday.
ED Gabe Jacas: While he is far from an impact player yet, Jacas has started to showcase his talents in recent practices — to a point where he has been involved with the starting defense for a handful of reps. He remains on an upward trajectory, but the scrimmage setting will show just where he stands right now.
The depth cornerbacks: With Carlton Davis still out and Charles Woods getting banged up as well, the Patriots suddenly have an opening opposite Christian Gonzalez. They also have plenty of candidates to fill it, with Kindle Vildor, Kobee Minor, Karon Prunty and Channing Canada all part of the competition still.
Pats Pulpit will have you covered throughout the day, so please make sure to regularly check back to patspulpit.com for all the latest news from camp. Credentialed Patriots beat writers Brian Hines (@iambrianhines), Andrew Guindon (@NestPgs) and Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) will bring you live updates from camp on their Twitter/X feeds, so please make sure to give them a follow.
