The New England Patriots were back to work on Saturday following their first preseason contest on Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts.
Here’s what went down on the Gillette Stadium practice fields.
Setting
Attire: Full pads
Duration: ca. 120 minutes (10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET)
Conditions: Sunny, temperatures in the mid 80s
There was no easing back into action for the Patriots, as they donned full pads on a sunny day in Foxboro. Work was also centered around red zone and end-of-game situations.
Attendance
Absent: CB Christian Gonzalez, WR Kobe Prentice, DB Eric Butler, LB Chad Muma, LS Niko Lalos, OLB Xavier Holmes, OL Andrew Rupcich, OL Ben Brown, WR Kyle Dixon, DL Christian Barmore
Injured: OLB Dre’Mont Jones
Returnee: LS Julian Ashby, CB Charles Woods (red non-contact jersey)
Limited: LB Christian Elliss
PUP/NFI: ED Harold Landry III, S Brenden Schooler
It was a lengthy injury list for the Patriots in their first practice back, headlined again by cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
“I’ve talked about his professionalism, everybody else’s. So, this isn’t anything [contract related],” Mike Vrabel said about the corner. “It was something that happened in practice, and he’s where he’s supposed to be when he needs to be there. Treatment, working with Frank [Piraino] and doing those things.”
New England did see top edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones depart practice early. Jones walked to the medical shed with head trainer Jim Whalen during a 1-on-1 period before departing practice with a member of the training staff.
Elsewhere, offensive lineman Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich were out after suffering injuries Thursday night. Brown, according to Vrabel, will be sidelined for multiple weeks likely through the end of preseason. Those injuries led to New England signing depth lineman Darrian Dalcourt and Joe Michalski, which will lead to two corresponding roster moves.
Muma and Holmes’ absences were injury related.
Takeaways
Doubs’ day: Free agent addition Romeo Doubs appeared to have his best week of practice last week. Mike Vrabel saw it similarly.
“I saw it the same way,“ Vrabel said. ”Just new offense, new year, figuring out the player, getting to know him. Really, a lot of positive things, I think, trending in the right direction.“
Doubs continued that progression on Saturday, as he hauled in multiple high-point touchdowns throughout the practice. That was highlighted by two in full-team work, as he climbed the ladder over Charles Woods to cap off Drake Maye’s end-of-game situation. In the next red zone period, Doubs got Woods again in the front right of the end zone.
Red zone success: Doubs wasn’t the only wide receiver to find success in the red zone. Early in that day, Mack Hollins was the top target hauling in two play-action crossers from Drake Maye and worked the end line to haul in a third touchdown courtesy of Tommy DeVito — which led to a new version of the usual obscure celebration from the veteran receiver.
A.J. Brown also got in on the fun as he dusted cornerback Carlton Davis on a whip route along the goal line and later scored on a play-action slant. Hunter Henry also caught a pair of scores from Maye, while Kyle Williams then adjusted and fought through Brandon Crossley to snag a fade route for a score from DeVito.
Jacas’ reps: With Dre’Mont Jones leaving practice, rookie edge defender Gabe Jacas repped with the top defense opposite of Elijah Ponder. Jacas’ physicality was noticeable on multiple occasions as he powered into the backfield for multiple run stuffs.
His best rep of the day came against Will Campbell, where Jacas powered through the tackle with a stab move for what likely would have been a sack in live action.
Corner struggles: Saturday marked the first day Carlton Davis participated in full-team periods since suffering a hamstring injury on July 28. His return was rather rocky. Davis surrendered a hand full of touchdowns in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 red zone work before getting beat downfield by Kayshon Boutte in an end-of-game drive.
Charles Woods also returned to practice in a red non contact jersey and repped opposite Davis with Christian Gonzalez sidelined. Woods was on the wrong side of multiple touchdowns by Doubs.
Borregales bounce back: It was a rough preseason opener for Borregales Thursday night as he missed three field goals, including the potential game-winner. Back with long snapper Julian Ashby on Saturday, Borregales bounced back connecting on all six of his field goal attempts while working on the skinny field goal posts.
Other notes:
- While Doubs capped off Maye’s one-minute drive, it was Kayshon Boutte who sparked it hauling in a long go route down the left sideline over Carlton Davis.
- DeVito’s one-minute drive ended with the defense standing strong, as pressure forced back-to-back incompletions to end the drive.
- Efton Chism III found the end zone working a scramble drill with Tommy DeVito in red zone work.
- Jack Westover had an impressive diving catch along the goal line with Mike Brown tight in coverage.
- Strong day for all three tackles (Will Campbell Marcus Bryant, Caleb Lomu) in 1-on-1 periods.
- With Brown and Rupcich absent, the second string offensive line featured: Marcus Bryant, Mehki Butler, Jacob Rizy, James Hudson, Caleb Lomu.
- K.J. Britt repped next to Robert Spillane with Elliss limited and Muma sidelined. Rookie Namdi Obiazor also had an impressive run stuff with the second unit.
- Karon Prunty recorded a pass breakup on Kayshon Boutte in the end zone.
Preview
The Patriots will hold a closed walkthrough on Sunday with just the media in attendance. A busy week then lies ahead with the Philadelphia Eagles coming to town for a pair of joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday.