FOXBOROUGH — With Jerod Mayo declaring that he’d yet to decide on a Week 1 starter, all eyes were on the quarterbacks once again as Patriots training camp rolled on. Amidst a challenging spell, Jacoby Brissett delivered his best practice in awhile, while Drake Maye kept building momentum with the backups, too. Beyond the signal callers, one wide receiver is ascending while another struggles, two rookie linemen are making a push, and the kicker competition continued.
Here are eight takeaways from a Monday practice where the skies were threatening, but rain held off: 1. Brissett bounces back It wasn’t a particularly heavy workload, but Brissett went 5-for-8 in team drills and delivered the throw of the day. With 1:04 posted on the clock and a two-minute drill beginning, Brissett went deep on the first play.
Tyquan Thornton ran past Christian Gonzalez on a go ball and Brissett dropped the pass into the wideout’s hands for a 45-yard gain. It was a beautiful throw and catch, and with the Patriots simulating a game week starting on Wednesday, Brissett felt it was a strong finish to the dog days of camp. “Today was good,” Brissett said.
“(Thornton) made a great catch. That was a good way to end quote-unquote that part of training camp. It’s all about progression and finding ways to get better with these guys, get on the same page, and I think that we’re doing that.
” 2. Maye keeps cruising with backups While Brissett took the starter’s reps, Maye continued to progress with the second team. He completed his first six throws of practice and finished the afternoon a tidy 8-for-11.
Maye didn’t score in his two-minute drill, but his coach has been encouraged by the No. 3 overall pick’s progress over the last week. “I think it’s attributed to his hard work, his dedication to his craft,” Mayo said.
“This guy comes in early, leaves late. Every day, he’s one of those type of guys, and he’s done a great job. I would also say the coaches have done a good job meeting with him one-on-one, making sure that he’s comfortable with his team play.
He’s absolutely getting better.” 3. Rookies get first team run Third-round pick Caedan Wallace (right tackle) and fourth-rounder Layden Robinson (left guard) were inserted into the first-team lineup for Brissett’s two-minute drill.
As the Patriots still search for their best combination on the offensive line, the rookies are earning a longer look. After practice, Robinson was asked if he’d be comfortable starting Week 1 in Cincinnati if called upon by the coaching staff. “Yes, sir.
I have no choice but to be ready,” Robinson said. “So that’s what comes with it. I really have no choice.
I just have to make sure when my number is called, that hey, I’m ready to go.” With Wallace and Robinson in, Chuks Okorafor and Sidy Sow shuffled out, but the veterans still got most of the day’s first-team reps. 4.
Osborn building momentum Veteran K.J. Osborn had another productive day, catching three passes in team drills.
As camp has worn on, Osborn is clearly growing more comfortable in the new offense and he’s built chemistry with both Brissett and Maye. It’s encouraging progress. 5.
Bad week continues for Baker His roster spot isn’t in jeopardy, but Javon Baker is in a real slump right now. The rookie wideout dropped another pass in 11-on-11 drills, which was a well-placed ball from Bailey Zappe, and when Maye looked for him with his final snap of the two-minute drill, Baker was blanketed by Alex Austin and Brenden Schooler. It’s been a rough stretch for the rookie since the Eagles game.
6. Kickers in a stalemate As the kicking competition continues, Joey Slye took a step back on Monday. The journeyman went 3-for-5, missing kicks from 45 and 52 yards, while Chad Ryland went 3-for-4, his lone miss coming from 41 yards.
At this point, they’ve almost kicked to a draw. For the summer, Slye is 36-for-44 and Ryland is 35-for-43, according to the meticulously tracking of ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Both of those guys have done a great job,” Mayo said.
“It’s still a competition, and we look forward to seeing who comes out on top.” 7. Dozen absences The Patriots were missing 12 players on Monday: Marte Mapu, Sione Takitaki (PUP), Nick Leverett, Joshua Uche, Cole Strange (PUP), Calvin Anderson, JaQuae Jackson, Kendrick Bourne (PUP), Hunter Henry, Mitchell Wilcox, Christian Barmore and Oshane Ximines.
Austin Hooper was present but didn’t participate in team periods, and without Henry and Wilcox, the Patriots were awfully thin at tight end once again. 8. No fans, still edits Practices are closed to fans, but amusingly, the Patriots are still playing edited rap tracks at practice.
It’s pretty funny to watch full-speed collisions between grown men while curse words are bleeped out of all the songs playing in the background. Read more about the Patriots.
