The final week of the preseason is in full swing as the New England Patriots were back on the practice fields on Wednesday following a day off. Here’s what went down throughout the two hour practice in a beautiful Foxboro. Absent: DL Mike Purcell* (Released), OT Calvin Anderson, DL Christian Barmore, WR Kendrick Bourne (PUP), G Cole Strange (PUP), LB Sione Takitaki (PUP) Limited: CB Shaun Wade, LB Joshua Uche*, LB Oshane Ximines*, TE Mitchell Wilcox* Non-participants: TE Hunter Henry, LB/S Marte Mapu Returnees: OL Nick Leverett Injured: OT Vederian Lowe Red non-contact jersey: LB Raekwon McMillan* Some new action on the attendance list following a day off.
In the positive department, Uche, Ximines, and Wilcox all returned to the field although in limited action. Elsewhere limited, Raekwon McMillan was in a red non-contact jersey for the first time this summer after being limited in Monday’s session. The Patriots offensive tackle room took another blow on Wednesday.
During the opening 11-on-11 period, top left tackle Vederian Lowe made his way to the medical shed where he appeared to point to his side/lower back. He eventually departed from practice. Hybrid practice: With the preseason finale Sunday night, New England has treated this week as a regular game week.
That led to a “hybrid” practice on Wednesday, which Jerod Mayo shared would include game prepping for Washington in addition to continued player evaluation. Throughout the day, that led to Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye operating the Patriots’ offense against a scout team defense. On the opposite end, Bailey Zappe and Joe Milton ran the Commanders’ scout-team offense (which featured plenty of QB runs in preparation for Jayden Daniels) against New England’s starting defense.
QB report: As for Brissett and Maye, Mayo stated before practice that the competition is still on but that Brissett remains QB1. That held true on Wednesday as the veteran still led off team drills. However, Maye did get three snaps with David Andrews and the entire top offensive line (all runs) working in after Brissett.
Taking the most snaps among the QBs, the rookie continued to look sharp and was aggressive throwing down field. He again connected with K.J.
Osborn downfield (this time up the seam) and fit a hole shot in to Jalen Reagor in 7-on-7s. His best throw came in full team work after a bad snap, where Maye went deep down the middle to an open Pop Douglas, but the receiver appeared to have trouble tracking the ball which led to it hitting the turf. Brissett’s day was up-and-down, as his first attempt was intercepted down the field by Marcellas Dial in coverage on a corner by Tyquan Thornton.
The veteran responded by going 4-for-4 in 7s — with strong throws to Douglas and Thornton — but ended his day by forcing a ball to Javon Baker that was nearly intercepted. Wallace elevated: With Vederian Lowe leaving early in practice, rookie Caedan Wallace worked as the top left tackle for the rest of practice. Wallace also continued to see some time as the backup right tackle, as Lowe and Calvin Anderson’s injuries have left New England with just four healthy tackles.
The rookie also had a pair of wins in a 1-on-1 period. Kicking to close: Perhaps a decisive day in New England’s kicking competition, as Joey Slye ended practice (working between 33 and 50 yards) by going 4-of-4 compared to Chad Ryland’s 1-of-4. Combining the preseason and practices, Slye is now 40-of-48 this summer while Ryland is 36-of-47.
The veteran was already the favorite for the job and saw his lead extend even further on Wednesday. Other notes: New England will be back on the practice fields on Thursday — again starting at 1 p.m.
ET. The sessions will continue to be open to the media but closed to the public..
