FOXBORO — For 90 minutes, it was a regular-season practice.
The Patriots’ starting offense and defense battled scout-team units that ran opponents’ plays and lost most reps. But the point of Monday’s practice wasn’t competition. It was to familiarize the Patriots’ best players with the schemes and techniques they will face in the coming days; not in a game, but joint practices Wednesday and Thursday against the Vikings.
The Pats’ trip to Minnesota will feature the most telling on-field days of the summer. Drake Maye and Co. will be tested against Brian Flores’ blitz-happy defense designed to twist and confuse protection schemes until they break. Maye got a small dose of that Monday, when a blitzer broke free up the middle of the pocket for a would-be sack on his second snap against the scout-team defense.
Eventually, in the final period, Maye took Mike Vrabel’s starting defense head-on and went 5-of-10 with a couple sacks and a delay of game penalty. He also failed to lead a scoring drive at the end of practice. It was another mixed bag for Maye, who has enjoyed meager success recently around a terrific joint session last Wednesday against Washington.
Maye is also contending with an all-rookie left side of his offensive line, and a receiving corps that has a penchant for disappearing.
Third-round rookie Kyle Williams?
Zero catches in team periods the past two days.
Stefon Diggs? Only two catches.
DeMario Douglas? He was the intended target on two pass breakups Monday, where he couldn’t quite pull away.
Of course, if Maye and the wide receivers show out in Minnesota, practices like these will fade into the background of memory, replaced by what happens against the Vikings. But if not, the Patriots will be running out of time before Week 1 to fix the two positions and problems that have dogged them the last three seasons.
Elsewhere, Javon Baker caught a bomb and a demotion, Marcus Jones starred, the pass rush was restored and both kickers had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad practice.
Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations:
Attendance
Foxboro, MA - Rhamondre Stevenson takes a water break during Patriot's OTA at Gillette Stadium. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Foxboro, MA - Rhamondre Stevenson takes a water break during Patriot’s OTA at Gillette Stadium. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Returned: OT Marcus Bryant
Absent: RB Rhamondre Stevenson, CB Christian Gonzalez, TE Hunter Henry, WR Ja’Lynn Polk, CB DJ James, DL Joshua Farmer, WR Kendrick Bourne, LB Marte Mapu, RB Deneric Prince
Non-participant: LB Jahlani Tavai
Limited: RB Terrell Jennings
Notes: Stevenson missed his second straight practice. Henry was a non-participant for another day after he started practice Sunday, then left after warmups. Farmer, Mapu and Prince were newly absent. Gonzalez and Polk are not expected to practice this week. James did not return after leaving Sunday’s practice early.
Jennings walked out of practice with a staffer before the final team periods.
Play of the Day
Javon Baker goes deep
On a late snap pitting the Patriots’ second-string offense and defense, Javon Baker took off straight down the middle of the field. He drew two defenders, and a look from backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs stepped up in the pocket and launched away.
Baker, who had a step on cornerback Miles Battle, threw on the brakes to come back for the underthrown ball and plucked it at the peak of his jump, just over Battle and another ranging defender. Baker then danced toward the end zone for a would-be touchdown.
Player of the Day
CB Marcus Jones
Patriots defensive back Marcus Jones pulls in a throw during practice in Foxboro on Wednesday. (Staff Photo/Chris Christo/Boston Herald)
Patriots defensive back Marcus Jones pulls in a throw during practice in Foxboro on Wednesday. (Staff Photo/Chris Christo/Boston Herald)
Two pass breakups in as many snaps.
That will do for any defensive back in practice, but especially when they came at the expense of the Patriots’ best (for now) receiver. Jones trailed DeMario Douglas across the field on consecutive crossing routes, batting the first pass away with ease and later leaping in front of Douglas to pick up another PBU. No one was better than Jones on Monday.
QB Corner
Note: The passing stats below were tallied during competitive 11-on-11 periods only. The stats in parentheses represent the quarterbacks’ camp-long performance.
Drake Maye: 5-of-10, 2 sacks (96-of-157, 3 INTs, 24 sacks)
Notes: After extensive work against the scout-team defense, Maye started fast.
He hit Stefon Diggs on a stop route over the middle, then Kayshon Boutte on a comeback route against the left sideline and cornerback Alex Austin. Next, at the start of a simulated 2-minute drill, he wisely ripped the ball into the direct to negate unblocked pressure on a throwaway, and found DeMario Douglas, tight end Austin Hooper and running back TreVeyon Henderson on his next three attempts.
That led to a pass behind Douglas that Marcus Jones broke up, another incompletion that Jones stopped, a long miss for Boutte (who may have been interfered with) and a delay of game penalty that Vrabel called out. Finally, he chucked two throwaways amid a would-be sack for K’Lavon Chaisson and an uncompetitive deep throw on fourth down intended for Mack Hollins. While most of Maye’s issues could be explained by the teammates around him, Monday was a not a great day for QB1.
Studs
OLB Anfernee Jennings
New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings (33) steps on the field for an NFL football practice, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings (33) steps on the field for an NFL football practice, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
He might still be toiling on scout team, but Jennings posted a sack and a hurry during periods. He got inside rookie left guard Jared Wilson on one pressure against Maye and caused a dead play for Joshua Dobbs and the second-team offense on his would-be sack.
OLB K’Lavon Chaisson
Back like he never left. The Patriots’ most productive pass rusher in camp tallied a pressure for the second straight practice, this time a sack, after missing all of last week. Chaisson has been a top-5 standout this summer.
Duds
K Parker Romo
Yikes. A day after extending his apparent lead over rookie Andy Borregales in the kicking competition, Romo went 1-of-4 on field goal tries. He made a 40-yarder around misses from 33, 45 and 51 yards away.
K Andy Borregales
Borregales finished 2-of-5 on his field goal attempts, his last miss falling short from more than 50 yards out to close a team period.
Offensive notes
Foxboro, MA - Aug. 11 - Mack Hollins (13) of the New England Patriots catches a pass during Training Camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Foxboro, MA - Aug. 11 - Mack Hollins (13) of the New England Patriots catches a pass during Training Camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Top targets in team drills: WR Kayshon Boutte 1/3, WR DeMario Douglas 1/3, WR Mack Hollins 1/2, RB TreVeyon Henderson 0/2
Drops: N/A
Top offensive line: LT Will Campbell, LG Jared Wilson, C Garrett Bradbury, RG Mike Onwenu, RT Morgan Moses
Running backs
Rhamondre Stevenson’s absence remains a mystery. He has been the Patriots’ lead back all camp, despite TreVeyon Henderson emerging as arguably the best offensive player this summer.
In his continued absence, Gibson led most drills and took two hand-offs to Henderson’s one in the only competitive 11-on-11 period.
Henderson also flashed in blitz pickup, stopping a slot blitzer cold for a second straight day.
Once Terrell Jennings left practice, the Pats were down to just three backs: Gibson, Henderson and JaMycal Hasty, who caught one screen pass and took zero carries.
Wide receivers
The Patriots rotated five wide receivers with their starting offense: Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams.
That meant Javon Baker, who enjoyed a brief promotion last week, was back on scout team, where he hauled in the aforementioned Play of the Day. If he makes the roster, it should be as the Patriots’ sixth receiver and new starting gunner.
As for the others, not much to write home about. Hollins and Boutte may have lost catches to uncalled defensive penalties that were signaled on the sideline but not called (no referees were present).
Maye, as has become customary, targeted Diggs on his first dropback of 11-on-11s, and lately has made a point to target Hollins downfield and/or in high-leverage situations.
Overall, a disappointing couple days for this position group, starting with Diggs who has not built on his strong start to camp.
Patriots rookie Will Campbell assesses performance from preseason debut
Tight ends
Like Stevenson, Hunter Henry has been out of practices since the preseason opener. Unlike Stevenson, there isn't much help behind him.
Austin Hooper scooped one checkdown throw in team drills, and otherwise work was light for the Patriots' tight ends.
Jack Westover, who has re-emerged as their best option for the No. 3 job, took snaps in the backfield. That (potential) fullback flexibility may be enough to secure him a roster spot.
Offensive line
At best, Will Campbell allowed one pressure over all team drills, including those versus the Patriots' scout-team defense. At worst, he gave up a couple pressures and one sack, which can only be verified with film review.
Starting Wednesday, Campbell and Jared Wilson will be the targets of opponents' blitz schemes and two-man stunts until further notice. The rookies are growing together and under a microscope.
But don't forget the other side, where a free blitzer slipped between center Garrett Bradbury and Mike Onwenu for a would-be sack during a scout-team period. It was unclear who botched the protection.
At right tackle, Morgan Moses led off, followed by seventh-round rookie Marcus Bryant. That left Demontrey Jacobs, pegged as the Pats' new swing tackle for most of camp, on the scout team.
The second-team offensive line, from left to right: Vederian Lowe, Caedan Wallace, Ben Brown, Cole Strange and Bryant.
Defensive notes
Foxboro, MA - Aug. 11 - New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel talks with cornerback Carlton Davis III during practice at Gillet Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Foxboro, MA - Aug. 11 - New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel talks with cornerback Carlton Davis III during practice at Gillet Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Top personnel during team periods: Top personnel during team periods: defensive linemen Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Keion White, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Khyris Tonga and Isaiah Iton; linebackers Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Harold Landry and K'Lavon Chaisson; defensive backs Alex Austin, Miles Battle, Marcus Jones, Jabrill Peppers, Jaylinn Hawkins, Craig Woodson.
Interceptions: N/A
Pass breakups: CB Marcus Jones 2
Would-be sacks: OLB K'Lavon Chaisson, OLB Anfernee Jennings, Team 2
Defensive linemen
Christian Barmore returned to full participation after being limited Sunday. He often shared the field with fellow D-tackles Milton Williams and Khyris Tonga; a heavier personnel package that presently features three of their best defenders.
Isaiah Iton, an overlooked, second-year defensive tackle, filled in for fourth-round rookie Joshua Farmer on the second-team defense. He generated multiple pressures.
Keion White has primarily stayed out wide as a starting edge defender, but his alignment bears watching moving forward. His strength could unlock new fronts when the Patriots deploy heavy personnel or want to kick him inside as an interior rusher in subpackages.
Linebackers
Here comes Jack Gibbens. Once the Patriots' top backup inside linebacker, he took a few of Christian Elliss' reps in the starting defense next to Robert Spillane.
Gibbens and Elliss also drilled together on the second-team defense, where Gibbens immediately sniffed out a running back screen.
On the edge, Anfernee Jennings remained with the scout team — where he's been since spring — but made some noise that may begin to make the coaching staff rethink his status.
K'Lavon Chaisson: stud.
Defensive backs
Kyle Dugger's full-time demotion stuck Monday, when he repped exclusively with the second-team defense and behind rookie Craig Woodson.
Woodson was first off the bench in the final period and Jabrill Peppers went down with an apparent cramp, replacing him in a personnel package with just two safeties.
On the outside, starting cornerback Carlton Davis likely interfered with a Drake Maye deep ball for Mack Hollins, and Alex Austin's own sideline called him out for too much contact on another incompletion intended for Kayshon Boutte.
Davis' return to health is the biggest takeaway for this secondary, which hadn't practiced with him on back-to-back days until Monday.
DJ James' ongoing absence (he left practice early Sunday) let seventh-round rookie Kobee Minor join the top defense after a summer spent on the scout team.
Salute to Marcus Jones, a frequent target in team drills and of opponents. He had one of his best coverage days all summer.
Special teams
Romo and Borregales are still having a strong camp despite bombing Monday. Prior to Monday, Romo had just one miss the previous two weeks, including Friday's preseason opener when he hit a 57-yarder.
Kick returners: TreVeyon Henderson, Antonio Gibson, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, Javon Baker
Starting kick return team: Brenden Schooler, Jack Gibbens, Jaylinn Hawkins, Craig Woodson, K'Lavon Chaisson, Christian Elliss, Jaheim Bell, Kayshon Boutte, Truman Jones, Henderson/Gibson
Extra points
The Patriots are scheduled to fly to Minnesota late Tuesday morning. They will hit the field Wednesday for a joint practice running from 1-3 p.m. ET.
Mike Vrabel is expected to meet with reporters before or after Wednesday's practice.
The Patriots' last training camp practices open to reporters from start to finish will be in Foxboro on Aug. 18 and 19. Fans are no longer permitted at training.
Originally Published: August 10, 2025 at 6:01 PM EDT