QB CORNER
Drake Maye: 10-of-16, 4 INTs;
Joshua Dobbs: 7-of-13: Woof.
Maye connected on his first two passes of competitive 11-on-11s, layups to Douglas and Kendrick Bourne. Then the wheels fell off with a no-shot deep ball intended for Kayshon Boutte that got batted away and a six-snap stretch where he packed all four of his interceptions. Two stemmed from bad passes – an overthrow deep and underthrow underneath – the aforementioned miscommunication and a short rip over the middle that corner Alex Austin batted up to rookie safety Craig Woodson.
Maye also took two would-be sacks in this stretch, one courtesy of Marcus Jones on an unblocked slot blitz and Keion White flying off the left edge. Over the second half of practice, Maye settled in without the comfort of checkdowns (only three of his 11 completions were screens or checkdowns). He delivered his best passes in the final full-speed team period, finding rookie Kyle Williams on a deep out route and veteran tight end/security blanket Hunter Henry on a deep over.
ATTENDANCE
ABSENT:
WR Stefon Diggs, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, OL Sidy Sow, DL Joshua Farmer
NON-PARTICIPANT:
WR Mack Hollins, OT Vederian Lowe
LIMITED:
S Kyle Dugger, S Jabrill Peppers, OT Morgan Moses, OL Mike Onwenu, WR Ja’Lynn Polk, OL Jared Wilson, DL Jaquelin Roy, S/LB Marte Mapu
NON-CONTACT JERSEY: N/A
NOTES: Diggs continues to rehab his ACL tear from last October. Stevenson is away from the team while he grieves the recent loss of his father, and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said he is in “constant communication” with Stevenson during his time away. Sow and Farmer were missing for reasons unknown. Hollins attended practice in street clothes. Moses and Onwenu were the only limited players to participate in competitive team drills.
PLAY OF THE DAY
BAKER ADJUSTS DEEP:
As the starting offense began U-turning from an ugly start to 11-on-11s, young receiver Javon Baker sprinted down the right sideline and gained a halfstep on Gonzalez. Maye spotted Baker’s lead and uncorked a deep ball that destined to fall short. So Baker threw on the brakes and out-leapt Gonzalez for a tough catch around the numbers, causing his offensive teammates to roar in approval.
PLAYER OF THE DAY
CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ:
Setting aside the long Baker completion, Gonzalez showed he remains the best player on the field for any Patriots practice.
During team drills, he alertly nabbed an errant Maye pass fired into the left flat and another misfire caused by a miscommunication with either slot receiver DeMario Douglas or rookie Kyle Williams. Gonzalez also blanketed Douglas on a deep ball that fell incomplete.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
Top targets in team drills: WR Efton Chism III 4/5, WR DeMario Douglas 2/5, RB TreVeyeon Henderson 3/4, WR Kyle Williams 1/4
Drops: Henderson, RB Lan Larison
Top offensive line: LT Will Campbell, LG Wes Schweitzer, C Garrett Bradbury, RG Mike Onwenu, RT Morgan Moses
A disastrous opening half of practice for the offense in competitive 11-on-11s. The quarterbacks went a combined 7-of-19 in the first two periods.
All of the top rookies saw extended run, especially running back TreVeyeon Henderson. He ate snaps in Stevenson’s absence behind Drake Maye and backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs.
Henderson was active in blitz pickup and as a receiver, catching a screen pass, checkdown and swing pass. He also had a drop.
First-round rookie Will Campbell was entrenched as Maye’s left tackle, a rare constant on a day of rotation for the Patriots’ top offensive lines. Veteran center Garrett Bradbury was the only other O-linemen who was as entrenched as Campbell.
Free-agent addition Wes Schweitzer worked mostly at left guard, while Cole Strange, a career left guard, worked on the right side when blocking for Maye. The staff rotated at both positions and right tackle, where projected veteran starter Morgan Moses split snaps
Moses and projected starting right guard Mike Onwenu worked to the side during portions of team periods.
Third-round rookie receiver Kyle Williams had a tough day, catching just one of four targets. As to be expected, he trailed DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne and Kayshon Boutte in 11-on-11 periods.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
Top personnel during team periods: defensive linemen Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Keion White and Khyris Tonga; linebackers Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jahlani Tavai, Jack Gibbens, Harold Landry, Anfernee Jennings, K’Lavon Chaisson and Bradyn Swinson; defensive backs Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Alex Austin, Marcus Jones, Miles Battle, Marcellas Dial, Jaylin Hawkins, Craig Woodson, Dell Pettus and Brenden Schooler.
Interceptions: Gonzalez 2, Pettus, Woodson
STUDS
DL CHRISTIAN BARMORE:
Barmore was a full participant less than six months after confronting a recurrence of blood clot-related symptoms that sidelined him for the final weeks of the 2024 season.
WR EFTON CHISM III:
An undrafted rookie who already looks the part of a shifty slot receiver in Josh McDaniels’ offense, Chism caught four of five targets in team drills. His quickness is elite, and the fact Chism caught passes at short and intermediate levels was encouraging. A name to remember.
DUDS
K JOHN PARKER ROMO:
Romo signed to the Patriots’ practice squad late last season and is now the incumbent in their new kicking competition with sixth-rounder Andy Borregales. He went 2-of-4 on field goal attempts that ranged between 37 and 50 yards, while Borregales was 4-of-4.
RB LAN LARISON:
Another undrafted rookie, Larison shouldn’t feel down coming out of just his second practice as a pro, but he did drop one of two targets in team drills.