FOXBORO, Mass. — With most New England Patriots fans concerned with whether the team will trade for Brandon Aiyuk, the team held another training camp practice on Tuesday.
Jerod Mayo emphasized team periods as the Patriots put in two hours of hard, physical work ahead of Thursday’s home preseason opener. The defense won the day, but there were impressive performances on offense, most notably from a pair of receivers.
Best Performances on Day 11 of Patriots Training Camp
LB Anfernee Jennings | STUD
Anfernee Jennings was a force early in practice when he racked up two sacks in the initial 11-on-11 period. He’s been solid all summer and remains arguably the best edge-setter on the roster.
Could Jennings pick up the pass-rushing slack if the Patriots trade Matthew Judon? Perhaps, although that responsibility likely would fall onto Keion White’s shoulders.
Regardless, Jennings is a quality pass rusher and one of the Patriots’ most underrated players.
WR Jalen Reagor | STUD
Jalen Reagor’s impressive training camp continued, as he finished with four catches in team periods. He caught three consecutive passes from Drake Maye during an 11-on-11 drill and connected with Jacoby Brissett on a highlight-reel TD during 7-on-7s.
I still believe Reagor earns a spot on the 53-man roster, especially given his added value as an elite kick returner.
WR Javon Baker | STUD
It was an inconsistent practice for Javon Baker, who factored into a Maye interception and saw another pass bounce off his hands. He’s had far better practices.
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Nevertheless, Baker lands in this section due to his incredible 15-yard touchdown against Christian Gonzalez in 11-on-11s. The pass from Brissett was perfect, and Baker dove near the edge of the end zone before snatching the ball. It was hard to tell whether his feet were in bounds, but the entire offense celebrated.
Players Who Struggled on Day 11 of Patriots Training Camp
RB Kevin Harris | DUD
Kevin Harris is on a cold streak after a stretch of impressive practices. He dropped a pass from Bailey Zappe during team drills and committed a fumble during an 11-on-11 period with Maye at quarterback.
Fumbling has been an issue for Harris throughout his career, and performances like the one we saw on Tuesday won’t help him in his quest for a roster spot.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster | DUD
Another day, another drop for JuJu Smith-Schuster, who seemingly has at least one bad moment per practice. He looks uncomfortable, unsure of himself, and resigned to his potential release. At this point, it’s fair to wonder whether he’ll even make it to roster cutdown day.
CB Christian Gonzalez | DUD
I’m not sure what to make of Gonzalez’s camp. There have been good days, bad days, and days that lie somewhere in between.
Tuesday was another mixed bag for the sophomore cornerback, who played well for stretches but also gave up the touchdown to Baker. Gonzalez has given up his fair share of plays this summer, arguably too many for a player who’s supposed to be a shutdown corner.
There’s no reason for Patriots fans to panic, but Gonzalez needs to be more consistent.