FOXBORO — No pads.
No cleats.
No competitive periods.
Not even a helmet, aside from Drake Maye pulling his on here and there for team periods.
The Patriots throttled down with a pre-planned walkthrough Friday, where players took the field for 75 minutes under a blazing sun and jogged through a variety of drills over their third training camp practice. Head coach Mike Vrabel tipped off reporters before practice saying the coaching staff planned to install more third-down plays after a heavy first-down session Thursday.
The idea: slow down, stay healthy, get the new stuff right and ramp up tomorrow.
While the Patriots did not run any competitive team drills, Friday’s walkthrough did offer some insights into their evolving depth chart.
Elsewhere, a veteran cornerback returned, Ja’Lynn Polk remained absent, the Pats have three top receivers, and a rookie is forcing major competition along the offensive line.
Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations:
Attendance
Absent: WR Ja’Lynn Polk
Returned: CB Carlton Davis
PUP: TE Austin Hooper, OT Vederian Lowe, WR Mack Hollins
NFI: S Josh Minkins
Notes: Davis returned after a one-day absence, which Vrabel chalked up to “maintenance.” The high-priced free-agent cornerback started camp on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list Tuesday, came off the list Wednesday and practiced, then disappeared Thursday. Polk has yet to practice this summer. All others have not been spotted at practice, save for Hollins who has walked around in street clothes.
QB Corner
Foxboro, MA – July 23 – Quarterback Drake Maye (10) of the New England Patriots gets ready to throw during Training Camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
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: N/A (22-of-24, 8 sacks)
Joshua Dobbs: N/A (11-of-18, INT, sack)
Notes: Maye and Dobbs often had their backs to each other during team periods, orchestrating the starting and second-string offenses, respectively, while facing opposite end zones. There were no meaningful observations from the few dozen passes they threw in these drills to jogging receivers and against a hands-off defense.
Offensive notes
Top targets in team drills: N/A
Drops: N/A
Top offensive line: LT Will Campbell, LG Cole Strange, C Garrett Bradbury, RG Mike Onwenu, RT Morgan Moses
Running backs
Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson took the most reps with Maye, who worked with a bevy of backs.
Not among Maye’s group? Second-round rookie TreVeyon Henderson, who until Friday had seen his fair share of reps with the top group. Henderson was not the only rookie demoted to the second-team offense, likely an effort by the coaching staff to field players around Maye who knew exactly where to be and what to do running new plays.
The belief here is Stevenson, Gibson and Henderson will resume a three-way split of first-team reps during team periods Friday.
Wide receivers
New England Patriots wide receivers Stefon Diggs (8) and Kayshon Boutte (9) warm up before a team practice, Thursday, at Gillette Stadium. (Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald)
Yes, there’s a top three. Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas were the only regulars alongside Maye in team periods.
Third-round rookie Kyle Williams, who opened camp with a two-catch performance Wednesday and had a drop Thursday, worked with the second-team offense Friday, as did Kendrick Bourne.
An under-the-radar name to keep an eye on: second-year wideout John Jiles. A rookie free agent with the Giants and Patriots last year, Jiles stands at 6-foot-3 and boasts a massive catch radius. He may never rise above the practice squad, but the skill set intrigues.
Tight ends
Hunter Henry and Jack Westover again repped as the Patriots’ top two tight ends, with Austin Hooper sidelined.
Westover, it seems, continues to get the nod over undrafted rookies Gee Scott and CJ Dippre because of his experience. Jaheim Bell, a 2024 seventh-round pick, has not factored into the competition.
Undrafted rookie fullback Brock Lampe continues to align across the formation. His use early in team periods, particularly with the starting offense, indicates a good chance of making the roster.
Offensive line
Another day, more rotations. In addition to pulling left guard Cole Strange for rookie guard/center Jared Wilson after a couple snaps in 11-on-11 periods and then moving Wilson to center in place of Garrett Bradbury, the Pats’ top offense also rotated at both tackle spots.
Demontrey Jacobs continued to replace starting right tackle Morgan Moses late in team drills, then played some left tackle in front of Maye. The coaching staff seems intent on testing Jacobs as their new swing tackle.
While Wilson pushes Strange and Bradbury in separate position battles, Jacobs is not currently threatening Moses’ job (or Will Campbell’s job at left tackle). The Patriots are managing Moses’ workload ahead of his 12th NFL season.
Former 2024 third-round pick Caedan Wallace continues to rep at left guard instead of offensive tackle on the second-team offense. Some evaluators believed Wallace was best suited to become an NFL guard when he was a college prospect.
Defensive notes
Foxboro, MA – July 25 – Defensive end Keion White (99) of the New England Patriots during Training Camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Top personnel during team periods: defensive linemen Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Keion White, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Khyris Tonga and Joshua Farmer; linebackers Robert Spillane, Jahlani Tavai, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson; defensive backs Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Alex Austin, Marcus Jones, Marcellas Dial Jr., Miles Battle, Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Jaylinn Hawkins, Craig Woodson and Marcus Epps.
Interceptions: N/A
Pass breakups: N/A
Would-be sacks: N/A
Defensive linemen
Christian Barmore returned from a limited practice Thursday to full participation Friday. He started next to Milton Williams and Keion White.
Off the bench, Khyris Tonga was first up, and later joined by fourth-round rookie Joshua Farmer. While he’s been quiet over OTAs, minicamp and now the start of training camp, Farmer is expected to become a rotational player for the Patriots.
Linebackers
Until further notice, Harold Landry should be considered as entrenched as any starter on the roster. He’s regularly manned one edge defender spot opposite White.
Christian Elliss took the first inside linebacker reps next to Robert Spillane again, before later rotating with Jahlani Tavai.
Notably, outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings continues to work with the second- and third-string units.
Defensive backs
Carlton Davis’ return allowed the Patriots to field their entire starting secondary: Christian Gonzalez, Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Davis and one of Marcus Jones or third safety Jaylinn Hawkins.
Dugger rotated into a single-high position on a few snaps, indicating the current staff is at least mildly comfortable with him playing the role as previous regimes were; though recent tape of Vrabel’s defenses in Tennessee would indicate the Patriots will play more two-high structures.
Young cornerbacks Alex Austin, Marcellas Dial Jr. and Miles Battle received some rarer snaps with the top defense. Battle is a bigger corner with good ball skills, but a longer climb to the 53-man roster than the other two.
Extra points
Temperatures cracked the low 90s and the local heat index reached 102 degrees at the end of practice.
The Patriots will hold their fourth training camp practice Saturday at 10:15 a.m. Fan admission and parking are free. The team will take Sunday off.
Originally Published: July 24, 2025 at 11:02 PM EDT