FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Do the New England Patriots suddenly have a real quarterback competition on their hands?
After watching Sunday’s training camp practice, the answer is a wishy-washy “maybe” — which is an improvement from a week ago.
Drake Maye edged out Jacoby Brissett for the second consecutive practice. When you factor in their performances in last Thursday’s preseason loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Maye’s been outplaying Brissett for a few days. However, Maye didn’t see any reps with David Andrews on Sunday, which is the real barometer for this QB battle.
Let’s get into everything that stood out on Day 16 of Patriots training camp.
Patriots Practice Observations for Sunday, Aug. 18
Attire
Full pads.
Attendance
The following players were absent from practice:
- LB Sione Takitaki (PUP)
- OL Cole Strange (PUP)
- TE Hunter Henry
- DT Christian Barmore
- S/LB Marte Mapu
- WR Kendrick Bourne
- CB Shaun Wade
- OT Calvin Anderson
- LB Oshane Ximines
- LB Joshua Uche
- CB Azizi Hearn
- DT Armon Watts
- WR JaQuae Jackson
Henry missed his fourth consecutive practice after suffering an apparent leg/foot injury on Sunday. He watched practice in street clothes.
Uche, Anderson, and Ximines both missed their second consecutive practice after playing in the Eagles game. Jackson remained out after suffering a leg injury in the game.
Barmore, who recently was diagnosed with blood clots, remains sidelined and without a timetable for return. There’s a real chance he will sit out the entire season.
Mapu hasn’t practiced since the start of camp. He’s watched in street clothes each day, and his injury situation remains a mystery.
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.
Bourne, who’s rehabbing a torn ACL, didn’t participate but watched practice in street clothes.
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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.
Hearn, Watts, Hooper, and all missed their first practice of the summer. Hooper appeared to suffer a leg injury during Saturday’s practice.
Here are some additional injury notes:
- Takitaki, Wade, Hearn, and Anderson worked out on the lower rehab field.
- Tight end Mitchell Wilcox suffered an injury during an early 7-on-7 period and didn’t return. That left the Patriots without three of their top four tight ends.
- Brissett appeared to hurt his throwing hand during an early 11-on-11 drill but didn’t miss any reps. He might’ve hit his finger off a helmet while attempting a pass.
Highlights From Eliot Wolf’s Press Conference
Eliot Wolf, the Patriots’ de facto general manager, met with reporters for the first time since the 2024 NFL Draft.
On the Matthew Judon trade: “All these decisions are difficult. We have to weigh now, the future, what’s best for the team, what’s best for the player, and it was something that we just felt organizationally, and for Matthew, it was probably the best for both parties.”
On how quickly the trade came together: “Teams had been calling to check in. He had voiced a little bit of displeasure with his contract at different times. So, whenever that happens, teams always check in on players. So, it’s just kind of something that came to fruition there at the end.”
On whether the offensive line is ready to support a young QB: “We’re concerned about every position. We’re always looking to improve and get things good, so whoever the quarterback is — it’s not like if Jacoby’s the quarterback, we just want to throw him with the wolves. So, we’re excited about our offensive line group. We’re still working to find the correct combination in there, and I think we have the pieces in place to be able to compete.
On the struggles of the O-line: “We feel confident in all these players, and we’re just working to find the best group, rather than the best five individuals.”
LIVE: Eliot Wolf Press Conference 8/18: https://t.co/9K2LZTI2oA
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 18, 2024
On pulling out of the Brandon Aiyuk sweepstakes: “Just kind of a feel. It was sort of a situation where he’s still in San Francisco, and that hasn’t been worked out from their standpoint yet. But we just felt, organizationally, our young receivers have had a really good week, and they’re continuing to progress, so we’re excited about those guys.”
On whether the door is closed on an Aiyuk trade: “Yes, at this point.”
On Maye’s development: “It was good to see him get in the other night. It was really good to see how calm and collected he was. He got headbutted at one point by Nolan Smith and made a nice play on that one, but he’s steadily improved. He’s put his head down and worked. He’s a great teammate, and we’re excited to see where his development can go.”
On how close Maye is to starting: “We’ll have to see. Again, he didn’t get a lot of snaps … in the first game. He did pretty well in his snaps the other night. It’s all about building on those successes and seeing where it goes.”
On exploring trades for receivers: “We make calls on all positions and on all players that we think might be able to help us. Sometimes, it’s just to try to gather information from other clubs and kind of see what they’re thinking about their own roster.”
On Vederian Lowe being the top left tackle: “Vederian’s done a really nice job. He’s steadily improved. We said it last year, if he could just learn that he has really good length to get his hands out, then he would have a chance to ascend to that starter level. He’s really started to do that this year, and it’s been impressive to watch him progress. We’re excited to continue working with him.”
Patriots’ QB Training Camp Battle | Day 16
(Note: I don’t track quarterback stats when the offense is working off cards.)
Jacoby Brissett
11-on-11s: 6-for-12, one sack
7-on-7s: 5-for-8
Brissett wasn’t bad in this practice, but he wasn’t good, either. He once again was late with his throws and wasn’t seeing the field well. After being a model of consistency through the first few weeks of camp, Brissett suddenly now is erratic and appears to be playing with less confidence.
Still, Brissett saw all of the first-team reps and was at quarterback for the final competitive period, a two-minute drill that started around New England’s 20-yard line. He went a pedestrian 4-for-8 on the drive, which ended with a 40-yard field goal from Chad Ryland.
If the Patriots’ QB competition now is closer than it was a week ago, it’s because Brissett is opening the door for Maye with underwhelming play in both practice and games.
Drake Maye
11-on-11s: 5-for-6, one sack
7-on-7s: 5-for-9
Maye appears to be building off his strong performance against the Eagles. He’s more decisive and playing with more confidence. The rookie’s lone incompletion in 11-on-11s came on a miscommunication with tight end La’Michael Pettway.
Maye’s stats in 7-on-7s would’ve been better if not for another Javon Baker drop and an incompletion to Kayshon Boutte, who should’ve made the catch but allowed Marcellas Dial Jr. to break it up.
MORE: Simulate the NFL Season With PFN’s Playoff Predictor
Ignore the stats, though. The important thing is how Maye looks, and there was a night-and-day difference between his performances in the last two practices and how he played in the joint session against the Eagles.
I don’t think the Patriots have a good excuse not to play Maye with the top line on Monday.
KJ Osborn sees Drake Maye progressing pic.twitter.com/DQ12zXEM9I
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) August 18, 2024
Joe Milton III
11-on-11s: 2-for-3, one scramble
7-on-7s: zero reps
Milton turned in another nondescript practice, though he did deliver the play of the day. During a late 11-on-11 period, Milton lobbed a 30-yard pass for Kawaan Baker, who elevated and caught the ball off Dial’s back. The entire offense ran down to celebrate with Baker.
Bailey Zappe
11-on-11s: 1-for-1
7-on-7s: zero reps
No notes.
Best and Worst Performances From Day 16 of Patriots Training Camp
TE Jaheim Bell | STUD
This was the rookie tight end’s practice of the summer — by far.
With the Patriots down Hooper, Henry, and Wilcox, Bell saw increased opportunities, and he made the most of them. The seventh-round pick caught three touchdowns during goal-line 11-on-11 periods, one each from Brissett, Maye, and Milton.
Bell missed time early in camp due to an undisclosed injury, but he’s been impressive since returning. He’s the most athletically gifted tight end in the room and is a decent blocker.
QB Drake Maye | STUD
Maye was the best QB on the field on Sunday. He threw three touchdowns during 7-on-7s, and all were great throws. Maye also delivered a beautiful 40-yard sideline throw to Javon Baker, who dropped the ball.
WR Ja’Lynn Polk | STUD
The rookie receiver continues to play well. Ja’Lynn Polk had four catches in team drills, second behind the five from DeMario Douglas. The second-round pick also saw more reps with the first-team offense.
Baker undeniably has more big-play potential than Polk, but Polk has been more consistently productive during training camp. He appears primed for an immediate role.
CB Alex Austin | DUD
This was a tough day for Alex Austin, who gave up two touchdowns during 7-on-7s (Maye was at quarterback for both). He also should’ve given up the big play to Baker, but the rookie wideout let him off the hook.
Austin’s enjoyed a solid camp, but this wasn’t his best day.
WR Javon Baker | DUD
Baker’s drop on the deep ball from Maye looked eerily similar to his drop in the Eagles game, except this one was on the sideline. The fourth-round pick has struggled for about a week and could be sliding down the depth chart. His talent is obvious, but his hands still need work.
K Chad Ryland | DUD
Kicking competition update: Joey Slye went 4-for-4 between 44 and 55 yards; Ryland went 3-for-5 with bad misses from 49 and 55 yards. The Patriots again ramped up the music and had the full team heckling both kickers.
Ryland had the edge over Slye early in camp, but there’s been a reversal over the last week. Overall, Slye is 33-of-39 this summer while Ryland is 32-of-39. This competition is close, but Ryland is fading.
Assorted Patriots’ Notes and Highlights From Day 16 of Camp
- The Patriots began practice in a light-hearted fashion by having first- and second-year players recover loose balls on a Slip ‘N Side. Some coaches, including Jerod Mayo, also participated. The activity was a training camp staple of the Bill Belichick era.
- The defense was forced to do pushups after losing a 1-on-1 tackling drill.
- These were the top offensive line groupings, from left to right:
- First line: Lowe, Sidy Sow, Andrews, Mike Onwenu, Chukwuma Okorafor.
- Second line: Okorafor, Layden Robinson, Liam Fornadel, Michael Jordan, Caedan Wallace.
- Lowe appears to be entrenched as the top left tackle. He’s been the top left tackle in all but a handful of practices and started at the position in both preseason games.
Vederian Lowe said he "definitely" views himself as a starting-caliber tackle. Gave a lot of credit to O-line coach Scott Peters for developing him this offseason pic.twitter.com/gyIdHNa5s0
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) August 18, 2024
- As was the case Saturday, the Patriots threw the lines into a blender. Wallace and Robinson subbed in as the top right tackle and left guard, respectively, and Onwenu saw more second-team reps at right tackle with Anderson sidelined. Maye saw reps with Okorafor, Sow, Wallace, and Onwenu.
- Jordan saw first-team reps at right guard after briefly subbing for Onwenu. Don’t think we’d seen that before.
- The Patriots put this line in front of Maye midway through his first 11-on-11 period: Wallace (left tackle), Sow (left guard), Fornadel (center), Atonio Mafi (right guard), Onwenu (right tackle).
MORE: Simulate the NFL Season With PFN’s Playoff Predictor
- Maye played with this line (left to right) during his second 11-on-11 period: Lowe, Robinson, Fornadel, Onwenu, Wallace. That’s arguably a starting-caliber line, with the exception of Fornadel. Maye also played with Kellen Diesch as his left tackle.
- At the end of practice, Brissett started a two-minute drill with this line: Lowe, Sow, Andrews, Onwenu, Wallace.
- As Wolf mentioned, the Patriots still are experimenting with O-line combinations, and the group is dealing with multiple injuries. So, it’s hard to tell how much we should read into things like Onwenu playing right tackle and Wallace repping with the first team.
- Jonathan Jones saw reps as the top slot corner, with Christian Gonzalez and Marco Wilson working as the top two boundary corners.
- Here are additional highlights from Sunday’s practice. The Patriots will return to the field on Monday morning.
Close look at Brian Belichick coaching up Patriots safeties pic.twitter.com/ArgW5lFfox
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) August 18, 2024
Close look at Brian Belichick coaching up Patriots safeties pic.twitter.com/ArgW5lFfox
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) August 18, 2024
Long look at all four Patriots QBs pic.twitter.com/jDI4RPmDLl
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) August 18, 2024
Maye to Javon Baker on a fade pic.twitter.com/KbrHpiPGgJ
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) August 18, 2024
Route-running 101 class with K.J. Osborn, Javon Baker and Ja’Lynn Polk.
(Sunday: 17-period practice, 2:15 in length, which is a long one) pic.twitter.com/d3VTZWrwKX
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 18, 2024
