FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots offense entered Saturday on a two-day heater, with Friday’s practice arguably the unit’s best of training camp. And while the offense wasn’t bad on Saturday, the defense responded in a big way with multiple interceptions and sacks during team drills.
Let’s get into everything that stood out on Day 9 of the Patriots training camp, including an update on the Drake Maye-Jacoby Brissett quarterback competition.
Highlights from Jerod Mayo’s press conference
On whether Maye will play in next Thursday’s preseason game against the Panthers: “We’re still having those conversations. Once again, maybe all of the starters will play. I’m not sure at this present time. We’ll see how we do today and how the guys present the following next couple of days. We’ll have a lot of guys play.”
On Maye and Brissett seeing the majority of team reps: “We still talk about competition and, once again, I would say it’s about the quality of the reps. Those guys earned the reps, and I think that’s how we want to operate.”
Jerod Mayo said he still hasn't settled on a plan for who'll play in the preseason opener, including the quarterbacks pic.twitter.com/5e3BL8Orb0
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) August 3, 2024
On what makes DeMario Douglas so effective: “First and foremost, it’s just the quickness and the speed. He is a smaller guy, but he’s very elusive. Just his ultimate competitive attitude, I think really helps the offense go as far as energy is concerned.”
On the offense turning things around: “Look, they’re playing with confidence right now. I’m talking about the offense, they’re playing with confidence and getting more comfortable in the scheme. The defense just has to play better, play with better fundamentals, play with better pad level, play with better just overall awareness. I challenge those guys, and we’ll see how they respond today.”
On Marte Mapu using a walkie-talkie while not participating: “Yeah, you know, he needs to know the call. If you’re not standing by the coach sometimes you don’t get the call, especially when we’re not signaling. Look, Marte’s a very smart individual and he is still engaged, which I appreciate, and I think his teammates appreciate as well.”
Patriots Practice Observations for Saturday, Aug. 3
Attire
Full pads
Attendance
The following players were absent from practice:
- LB Sione Takitaki (PUP)
- OL Jake Andrews (PUP)
- OL Cole Strange (PUP)
- DT Christian Barmore
- S/LB Marte Mapu
- TE Jaheim Bell
- CB Marcus Jones
- DB Joshuah Bledsoe
- WR Kendrick Bourne
- OT Chukwuma Okorafor (new)
- WR Tyquan Thornton (new)
- OK Calvin Anderson (new)
This was the first missed practice for both Okorafor and Thornton. Okorafor was in uniform but not in pads and didn’t participate.
Thornton missed his first practice of camp, while Jones and Bledsoe missed their second consecutive practices. Thornton’s injury isn’t considered serious, according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald.
Source: Tyquan Thornton's absence at #Patriots practice today is not considered to be long-term or serious. Thornton has a bad injury history, specifically in training camp and the preseason; something the team has been mindful of.
The #Patriots return to practice Monday. pic.twitter.com/aKcWUg8K1q
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 3, 2024
Anderson missed practice after suffering a lower leg injury on Friday. He returned to that practice, potentially indicating his injury isn’t serious.
Barmore, who was diagnosed with blood clots on Sunday, has now missed five consecutive practices. It’s unclear whether he’ll return at any point this season.
Mapu hasn’t practiced since the start of camp. He’s watched in street clothes every day, and his injury situation remains a mystery.
Jake Andrews is dealing with an undisclosed injury. We haven’t seen him down on the rehab field, and it’s fair to wonder whether he’s dealing with a long-term injury.
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Bell missed his fourth consecutive practice. The rookie tight end’s injury situation is unclear.
Strange continues to rehab from a torn patellar tendon suffered late last season. He might sit out half the 2024 season, if not the entire campaign.
Takitaki is still recovering from an offseason knee scope, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. The veteran linebacker previously said he wouldn’t miss a single day of camp, but he’s yet to appear in a single practice.
Here are some additional injury notes:
- Douglas and Shaun Wade remained in red non-contact jerseys.
- Joshua Uche went to the lower field after the stretching period and didn’t participate in team drills.
Absence list for today's Patriots practice:
Tyquan Thornton
Marte Mapu
Sione Takitaki
Joshuah Bledsoe
Marcus Jones
Jake Andrews
Cole Strange
Calvin Anderson
Chukwuma Okorafor
Kendrick Bourne
Jaheim Bell
Christian Barmore pic.twitter.com/PHmF0TkKxd— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) August 3, 2024
Matthew Judon Watch
Matthew Judon was a full participant for the second consecutive fully padded practice and now has practiced three straight days since sitting out back-to-back sessions due to his contract dispute.
While Judon’s participation in team drills fluctuated, he saw meaningful reps against both Brissett and Maye and played well. For now, he and Mayo appear to be on the same page.
Judon, who’ll turn 32 this month, is entering a contract year and hasn’t guaranteed any money. He’s gone public with his desire for a new deal, and his practice participation has fluctuated throughout the offseason.
Patriots’ QB Training Camp Battle | Day 9
(Note: I don’t track plays when the offense is working off cards.)
Jacoby Brissett
11-on-11s: 9-of-14, one interception, one sack
7-on-7s: 2-of-6, interception
Brissett, like the rest of the quarterbacks, was better than his numbers indicate. His pick in 11-on-11s came on a deep shot to Jalen Reagor, who got outmuscled by Azizi Hearn, who tipped the ball to Jaylinn Hawkins. On the 7-on-7 pick, Austin Hooper appeared to stop running while looking for a penalty, allowing Alex Austin to come up with the end-zone interception.
Otherwise, Brissett was his usual, steady self and reaffirmed himself as the top QB on the depth chart. He was especially good during a late two-minute period, going 4-for-4 with a 40-yard completion to K.J. Osborn and a 10-yard TD pass to a diving Hunter Henry (more on him in a bit).
Drake Maye
11-on-11s: 3-of-11, one sack, one drop
7-on-7s: 4-of-5
Maye also was victimized by spotty receiver play and general sloppiness from the rest of the offense. He was playing with Kellen Diesch and Zuri Henry as his top tackles, and pressures were an issue throughout.
That’s not to say that Maye doesn’t share some of the blame. He left some plays on the field, including a deep overthrow for Javon Baker, and had a few errant throws. He also looked hesitant for stretches, a running theme throughout his first camp.
Joe Milton III
11-on-11s: 1-of-4, one drop, one scramble
7-on-7s: 1-of-4, two drops, one scramble
It was hard to tell whether some of Joe Milton III’s incompletions were due to bad receiver play or Milton just throwing the ball with too much zip. Either way, he couldn’t get on the same page with anyone.
Still, he made some great throws, including a would-be touchdown that was dropped by JuJu Smith-Schuster (more on him in a bit, too).
Bailey Zappe
11-on-11s: 3-of-5, one drop
7-on-7s: zero reps
Bailey Zappe saw five team reps a day after not seeing any. His workload has fluctuated throughout camp, and he hasn’t done anything to show he deserves a shot at competing with Maye and Brissett.
Best and Worst Performances From Day 9 of Patriots Training Camp
TE Hunter Henry | STUD
The veteran tight end was excellent, finishing with four catches on five targets while delivering the play of the day.
In an early 11-on-11 period, Brissett fired a 40-yard bomb to Henry, who made a ridiculous one-handed grab with Kyle Dugger in coverage. Mayo called back the play due to a sack — a questionable ruling — but we’re still giving Henry credit for the catch.
One-hand Hunt ✋@JBrissett12 | @Hunter_Henry84 pic.twitter.com/kyQO6TyXGi
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 3, 2024
With all the talk about New England’s receiver group, it’s easy to forget they have an above-average pass-catching tight end in Henry, who’s been one of the offense’s most consistent performers throughout camp.
DT Trysten Hill | STUD
I gave Trysten Hill one run-stuff and one batted pass, which came against Maye.
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The 26-year-old defensive tackle doesn’t get talked about much, but he’s respected in the locker room and has turned in a solid camp. Honestly, you could argue he deserves a roster spot over Armon Watts, who was the Patriots’ top D-line addition during the offseason.
Either way, with Barmore potentially facing a lengthy absence, Hill could be in line for a roster spot.
QB Jacoby Brissett | STUD
Brissett wasn’t great or anything, and I’m not sure he’s truly starred in any practice. But he’s rock-solid every day and has been the Patriots’ best QB during two-minute drills and when asked to push the ball down the field.
He still is leading the QB competition, and it isn’t close.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster | DUD
This was another brutal practice for Smith-Schuster, who saw time with the third-team offense. He had a drop, fell on another route, and couldn’t gain separation against anyone. The Patriots won’t love incurring a $9.6 million dead salary cap hit, but they need to release Smith-Schuster at some point.
RB Kevin Harris | DUD
Kevin Harris has been a surprise camp success story, but Saturday was a struggle for the third-year running back. I gave him two run-stuffs (not necessarily his fault) and a pair of drops, and you could argue he committed a third. Regardless, it was a rough performance for a player who can’t afford many of them.
K Chad Ryland | DUD
Chad Ryland went 3-of-4 on field-goal attempts, with his lone miss wide right from 39 yards. It was a step backward for the second-year kicker, who still has a slight edge over veteran Joey Slye (5-of-5 on Saturday). Through nine practices, Ryland is 20-of-22 while Slye is 19-of-23.
Assorted Patriots’ Notes and Highlights From Day 9 of Camp
- This was the third straight practice featuring brutal heat and humidity. Make it stop.
- Former Patriots Jason McCourty and James White watched practice.
- Judon had a run-stuff and at least one sack and appeared to be in a great mood throughout practice. He taunted the offense after Henry’s catch got called back and unnecessarily chased Antonio Gibson for nearly 40 yards before diving — much to the crowd’s delight.
- These were the top offensive line combinations, from left to right:
First group: Vederian Lowe, Sidy Sow, David Andrews/Nick Leverett, Mike Onwenu, Caedan Wallace
Second group: Kellen Diesch, Layden Robinson, Nick Leverett, Michael Jordan, Zuri Henry - The Patriots have shuffled their tackle pairings throughout camp, and that continued Saturday with Anderson and Okorafor both sidelined. This was Lowe’s fourth straight practice as the top left tackle following Wallace’s four-day stint in the same role. It’ll be interesting to see what the combinations look like next week.
- Leverett filled in for Andrews during a red-zone 11-on-11 period late in practice.
- Second-year corner Isaiah Bolden got some run opposite Christian Gonzalez.
- Mayo gathered the entire team before two-minute drills, likely telling players to be careful.
- Safety Dell Pettus had a solid practice, including a pass breakup and a nice tackle on JaMycal Hasty near the goal line.
- Hawkins continued his solid camp, finishing with a pass break and his interception of Brissett.
- Milton did a backflip after throwing a TD to Kayshon Boutte during 7-on-7s.
- Here are additional highlights from Saturday’s practice. The Patriots will take Sunday off before returning to the field on Monday.
Drake Maye to Javon Baker pic.twitter.com/dHneQ0xL2l
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) August 3, 2024
Drake Maye to David Wallis pic.twitter.com/SIL0zovbjc
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) August 3, 2024
Drake Maye ➡️ Javon Baker pic.twitter.com/ETphPG0II6
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 3, 2024
Joe Milton to Ja’Lynn Polk in the back of the end zone
–#patriots #nfl #newenglandpatriots
Patriots Coverage Powered by @Gametime @PrizePicks pic.twitter.com/VGuIba6MKs— Patriots on CLNS Media (@PatriotsCLNS) August 3, 2024
Jacoby Brissett does a great job keeping the ball low for Pop Douglas
–#patriots #nfl #newenglandpatriots
Patriots Coverage Powered by @Gametime @PrizePicks pic.twitter.com/4NS77hqwu2— Patriots on CLNS Media (@PatriotsCLNS) August 3, 2024
Joe Milton throwing bullets at Patriots Training Camp
–#patriots #nfl #newenglandpatriots
Patriots Coverage Powered by @Gametime @PrizePicks pic.twitter.com/7r43ZXoXXd— Patriots on CLNS Media (@PatriotsCLNS) August 3, 2024
Kayshon Boutte with a tough catch AND gets his feet in bounds
– #patriots #nfl #newenglandpatriots
Patriots Coverage Powered by @Gametime & @PrizePicks pic.twitter.com/wLCST6LZMe
— Patriots on CLNS Media (@PatriotsCLNS) August 3, 2024