
The Patriots held Day 2 of training camp in Foxborough. Here are some thoughts, observations and highlights from Friday’s practice.
ATTENDANCE, PLEASE:
■ The Patriots had 100 percent attendance for Day 2 with WR Malcolm Mitchell arriving in uniform with his teammates. He stayed through stretching before working on the conditioning field. Mitchell had a procedure on his bothersome knee on Monday, according to a league source.
■ RB Brandon Bolden, who had been on the non-football injury list, was in uniform and was a full participant.
■ WRs Kenny Britt and Matthew Slater; CBs Jonathan Jones and Cyrus Jones; and safety Nate Ebner, all of whom are on the PUP list, were present but not in uniform. All did conditioning work after team stretches and light running.
NEW INJURIES: RT Marcus Cannon left about midway through the session after a slow walk with trainer Jim Whalen. WR Jordan Matthews appeared to cramp up late in the practice but returned in short order.
DRESS CODE: Shorts and shells.
THREE UP
Stephon Gilmore: The cornerback drew the biggest applause of the day (non-Tom Brady category) when he skied to knock away a Brady pass intended for Julian Edelman.
Kyle Van Noy: A very active day for the linebacker, who looked comfortable in pass coverage and had a pair of pass breakups.
Jason McCourty: The cornerback displayed good awareness, tight coverage, and nice hands while playing (mostly) noncontact defense. He had one pass breakup on a deep Brian Hoyer pass to Chris Hogan.
THREE DOWN
Danny Etling: Tough mid-practice stretch for the rookie QB when he finished a 2-for-6 window with four straight incompletions, the final pass getting picked by Devin McCourty.
Julian Edelman: Moments after a leather-lunged fan bellowed “Edelman make us proud,’’ the 10-year veteran muffed a punt.
Corey Bojorquez: The rookie badly shanked the final punt of one drill, sending the ball spinning so far left it nearly reached the adjacent field.
TOP PLAYS
■ Stephon Gilmore’s floating one-handed, deflection of Tom Brady’s sideline fade to Julian Edelman was the top highlight. For a point of reference, check out Gilmore’s breakup of Blake Bortles’s pass to Dede Westbrook in the last year’s AFC Championship game.
■ Brian Hoyer hit Edelman in stride with a beautiful spiral on a wheel route fade down the right sideline.
■ Devin McCourty read Danny Etling’s eyes perfectly and stepped in front of a pass intended for Ralph Webb.
■ Brady’s first pass of the day (during team drills) was a deep connection to Chris Hogan, who got behind the defense seemingly unnoticed.
■ Rookie Keion Crossen broke up a Hoyer pass in the end zone. Full disclosure: not really sure who was the intended target.
■ Damarius Travis slapped away a Brady offering toward Phillip Dorsett.
■ Rookie J.C. Jackson picked off a Hoyer pass that was intended for Devin Lucien.
UNOFFICIALLY SPEAKING
It wasn’t the sharpest days for the quarterbacks as the defense was sizzling in the summer heat. Tom Brady connected on 12 of 19 passes, while Brian Hoyer was slightly better, completing 12 of 17. Danny Etling was just 2 for 6.
RECEIVER’S RACE
Cordarrelle Patterson had the play of the day on offense. The first-year Patriot skied and made a one-handed snag of a Tom Brady pass in the end zone despite tight coverage from Stephon Gilmore.
ODDS AND ENDS
■ With the ground still wet from overnight rain, three huge fans were cranking early to dry out the turf.
■ “Walk it Talk it,’’ by Migos (featuring Drake, of course) played while the team stretched and did light jogging.
■ It was like Rutgers family day after practice with the McCourty twins and Duron Harmon having some fun with their kids.
■ Braxton Berrios, Riley McCarron, Julian Edelman, and Patrick Chung alternated returning punts.
■ J.C. Jackson and A.J. Moore did some work as the gunners.
■ Top picks and Georgia buddies Isaiah Wynn and Sony Michel arrived together for the second straight day.
■ Linebacker Marquis Flowers wore full gray game pants (without pads) for the session.
■ The first Tim Tebow No. 5 jersey of the summer was spotted.
■ Former Patriots receiver Tiquan Underwood took in practice from the field. Underwood, who is still sporting his signature high-top (emphasis on high) fad haircut, is now the receivers coach at Lafayette.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Saturday: Practice, 9:15 a.m.
Sunday: Practice, 9:15 a.m.
Monday: Practice, 7 p.m. (Season ticket-holders and Foxborough residents only).
Jim McBride
Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globejimmcbride.



