Will Campbell’s first padded training camp practice with the New England Patriots was a mixed bag.

As our Phil Perry observed, Campbell struggled to start Monday’s session but finished strong. The first-round left tackle faced a difficult task against an intimidating pass-rusher in Keion White.

White gave Campbell a pair of “Welcome to the NFL” moments early in the practice. Perry, who attended the hot and humid session in Foxboro, joined Tom E. Curran on a live episode of the Patriots Talk Podcast to share his takeaways.

Patriots Talk Podcast – Patriots training camp: Padded practice RECAP and key observations | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

“Will Campbell was on the ground twice in the span of about eight minutes early in the practice,” Perry said. “Give him credit, he steps right up, first rep of the day against Keion White. It’s a run-blocking period and they’re just sort of engaged and they’re moving sideways. Keion White, at the end of the drill, just gets underneath him and through Will Campbell. He ended up rolling on the ground.”

That likely drew the ire of Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, who had this to say before Monday’s practice:

“We’ve got a bunch of guys falling on the ground. I’d rather not see that. I just don’t think that good teams end up practicing that way.”

Unfortunately for Campbell, White got the best of him again shortly thereafter.

“Couple minutes later, in the 1-on-1 pass protection drill, Keion White bullrushed with both arms fully extended using real power against Will Campbell,” Perry said. “He must have felt Campbell sort of leaning on him a little bit to sort of counteract that power move, and Keion White as a counter just rips Will Campbell towards him and sends Will Campbell stumbling in the wrong direction, and Keion White breezed past him into the backfield.

“So, because it’s their first padded practice, and because Keion White is a physically talented young man, those to me qualified as ‘Welcome to the NFL’ types of moments for Will Campbell.”

Also in the episode:

What’s Mike Vrabel looking for at training camp?  

Highlights from Drake Maye’s day.

What did we see from the WR group?

Reaction to Christian Gonzalez’s injury.