FOXBORO — Three plays, three picks.
One hootering, hollering, happy-as-could-be sideline.
Mike Vrabel closed shop a few minutes early Thursday amid soaring temperatures and an even hotter Patriots defense that intercepted Drake Maye twice and his backup, Tommy DeVito, once on the final three plays of practice. Maye’s 2-minute drill appeared to end on a short pass that Marcus Jones jumped near the right flat for a pick, but Vrabel gave the offense another chance with 27 seconds left. This time, Maye tossed an interception downfield, and trotted off toward the sideline in defeat.
Next, DeVito made a bad decision over the middle on a prolonged play that ended with a scooping grab by backup safety John Saunders Jr. That pick punctuated the best defensive practice of the summer for the Patriots defense, which has struggled to consistently pressure Maye and disrupt his passing game. Of course, the sights and sounds from Thursday told a much different story.
Elsewhere, Maye worked without his No. 2 receiver again, the starting offense had a new left tackle, Gabe Jacas made his debut with the first-team defense and two backup edge rushers recorded would-be sacks.
Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations:
Attendance
Returned: OL Caedan Wallace
Absent: CB Carlton Davis, TE Jack Westover, WR Cameron Dorner
Limited: LT Will Campbell, DL Christian Barmore, CB Charles Woods, Wallace
PUP: OLB Harold Landry
NFI: S Brenden Schooler
Notes: Will Campbell wore a large brace on his left arm for a second straight day. He did not participate in team drills. Barmore and Woods left early, according to NBC Sports Boston. Wallace returned after a three-day absence, but left before competitive team drills.
Davis has missed seven practices, while Westover has been out for three in a row. Dorner was present in his jersey but worked away from the team. Landry and Schooler have yet to practice this summer.
Play of the Day
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, left, and Kevin Byard III during training camp on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Kevin Byard’s follow-up INT
Twenty-seven seconds on the clock, and a second chance for the offense.
Maye had just thrown an interception into a crowd, trying to find Kayshon Boutte on a short in-cut. Vrabel gave him and the offense the ball back just outside the red zone. Maye took the snap and gave it away again, set up by some wily safety play.
Byard worked a short zone over the middle of the field and tracked Maye’s eyes to his left. There was Hunter Henry running up the seam. Byard drifted over, then backward and followed a pass Maye intended to lob over him and high-pointed it for a pick.
Player of the Day
OT Marcus Bryant
A hat tip to the second-year offensive tackle, who replaced Campbell in team drills as the Patriots’ starting left tackle.
Bryant was a healthy scratch for most regular-season games last year, a seventh-round pick who Thursday indicated he had some maturing to do. That maturation has led to signs of a potential Year 2 leap as one of the Patriots’ top seven or eight offensive linemen. For now, Bryant has a solid grip on the backup starting left tackle job, and has successfully flipped between both spots.
Bryant also beat starting edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones head-to-head in 1-on-1 pass rush, then seemed to battle Jacas to a draw.
QB Corner
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: 9-of-15, 2 INTs (69-of-97, 3 INTs, 6 sacks)
Tommy DeVito: 3-of-6, INT, sack (51-of-75, 3 sacks)
Behren Morton: 3-of-6, sack (25-of-37, sack)
Notes: After an opening deep ball down the middle fell incomplete for Boutte, a pass well-covered by young safety Craig Woodson, Maye hit five straight completions. He dumped checkdowns to TreVeyon Henderson and rookie tight end Eli Raridon, zipped a sideline throw to A.J. Brown on a comeback route, found DeMario Douglas underneath and Brown again on a short in-cut versus Woods.
Next, he missed Henderson on a checkdown that may have been deflected and overshot Brown on a go route versus Christian Gonzalez. That led to a tight red-zone period, where he lofted a touchdown to Douglas running a corner route past Jones. Next came an option run and a near touchdown to Mack Hollins, who appeared to be out of bounds on a throw to the back of the end zone against Byard.
Finally, the two-minute drill. Maye connected on checkdowns to Henry and Rhamondre Stevenson and ripped another pass to Brown on a comeback route, this time inches away from Gonzalez’s outstretched arms. After spiking the ball with 32 seconds left, he tried to fit a short pass into Boutte on the right that Jones grabbed, and a seam pass for Henry that instead landed in Byard’s.
Turnover. Day over.
Studs
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez makes a one-handed catch during training camp on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
CB Christian Gonzalez
Excluding the one pinpoint pass Maye completed against him in the two-minute drill, Gonzalez didn’t allow a catch and won all three head-to-head reps against Brown in a 2-on-2 red-zone period pitting receiver and cornerbacks.
S Kevin Byard
Before the interception, Byard had tight coverage that drove Hollins out of bounds to catch a Maye pass outside the end zone.
OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
Vera-Tucker handled defensive tackles Milton Williams and Leonard Taylor III in 1-on-1 pass rush, and was central to an offensive line that allowed zero would-be sacks of Maye. Not to mention, he had a new partner on the left side with Bryant replacing Campbell.
Duds
QB Drake Maye
Two interceptions on the same two-minute drill is a bad day for any quarterback anywhere.
WR Mack Hollins
Hollins saw a brief promotion in Doubs’ absence, yet failed to catch either target he saw in team drills.
OT Lorenz Metz
Metz allowed a sack in 11-on-11s and lost a bad rep in 1-on-1 pass rush to seventh-round rookie outside linebacker Quintayvious Hutchins.
Offensive notes
New England Patriots guard Ben Brown, left, and offensive tackle Marcus Bryant during training camp on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Top targets in team drills: WR A.J. Brown 3/4, WR Kayshon Boutte 1/3
Drops: N/A
Top offensive line: LT Marcus Bryant, LG Alijah Vera-Tucker, C Jared Wilson, RG Mike Onwenu, RT Morgan Moses
1-on-1 pass rush winners: OL Alijah Vera-Tucker 2-0, C Jared Wilson 2-0
1-on-1 pass rush losers: OT Caleb Lomu 1-1, OL James Hudson III 0-1
Running backs
A new day, same story. Rhamondre Stevenson led off most periods, including the two-minute drill where his skills as a receiver and in blitz pickup are a meaningful advantage over TreVeyon Henderson.
In the lone period Henderson led off, he bounced an inside run left and into a crowd of defenders that had the defensive sideline celebrating. Vision is another area where the second-year back is lagging behind Stevenson.
Terrell Jennings was the top back with the second-team offense, more evidence he should be considered the No. 3 running back.
Is Myles Montgomery making a push? The undrafted rookie, who runs as hard as any of the backs, saw more action in team drills, taking hand-offs with the second-string and third-string units.
Lan Larison had one catch in 11-on-11 periods, and seventh-round rookie Jam Miller didn’t see a target.
Wide receivers
Romeo Doubs’ absence created an opening for Mack Hollins, who stepped into the new starting “Z” receiver role during team drills and did little with it.
Hollins’ value, it should be noted, is not limited to playing outside receiver in this offense, where Josh McDaniels will align him almost anywhere as the Patriots’ best blocking receiver.
How about A.J. Brown? He had a starkly different day in team periods versus competitive 2-on-2 reps, where Gonzalez blanketed him three times and he couldn’t escape safety Craig Woodson. During 11-on-11s, he had a team-high three grabs, beating Gonzalez, Charles Woods and Kobee Minor.
Kayshon Boutte rotated in with the starting offense, but mostly saw second-team reps. His lone catch came over the middle on a DeVito throw with reserve defensive backs Karon Prunty and John Saunders Jr. in coverage.
Through two weeks of camp, no receiver has been steadier than DeMario Douglas. He’s gone catchless in just one practice, and remained a slot fixture in the Patriots’ three-receiver sets.
Tough day for Efton Chism III, who had one grab on a scramble-drill play with DeVito but lost most of his reps in 2-on-2s to Marcellas Dial Jr.
Like Chism, Kyle Williams finished with one catch in team periods. He worked primarily on the second-team offense, but his reception came with the third-stringers and rookie Behren Morton at quarterback.
Tight ends
Down practice overall for Hunter Henry, the intended target on Maye’s second interception. He was 1-of-3 during competitive receiving drills, and his only catch was a checkdown the defense happily allowed.
Rookie tight ends Eli Raridon and Tanner Arkin shared the field on the offense’s opening play of 11-on-11s, forming a rare snap of 22 personnel (two backs, two tight ends).
Arkin again lined up at fullback and as a traditional tight end. He also took reps as a blocker in 1-on-1 pass rush, holding his own against backup outside linebacker Jesse Luketa on one rep.
Raridon’s only catch in 11-on-11s was a checkdown from Maye over the middle. He’s been quiet as a pass-catcher all week.
Offensive line
The best young tackle on the field Thursday was not first-round rookie Caleb Lomu. Meet Marcus Bryant.
Bryant capably replaced Will Campbell as the starting left tackle for one practice, and continues to be solid in 1-on-1 pass rush. He has the requisite size for the position, and said after practice he’s comfortable on both sides.
Inside, left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker — who hasn’t played the position full-time since his rookie year — enjoyed one of his best practices as a Patriot.
Like Vera-Tucker, new center Jared Wilson was 2-0 in 1-on-1 pass rush with two clear wins. Behind them, Maye didn’t take a would-be sack and hardly faced interior pressure.
With Morgan Moses a full participant as the starting right tackle, Lomu worked as his top backup and then took some third-team reps at left tackle.
Lomu’s reps on the left side, his college position, are notable, but spending the majority of his time at right tackle this summer speaks loudest.
Lomu also took a couple hard losses in pass protection, once to second-round pick Gabe Jacas in team periods and another against undrafted rookie Xavier Holmes in 1-on-1 drills. Happens.
More snaps for longtime tackle James Hudson III at guard in team periods.
Defensive notes
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel during training camp on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Interceptions: S Kevin Byard III, CB Marcus Jones, S John Saunders Jr.
Pass breakups: CB Brandon Crossley
Would-be sacks: OLB Jesse Luketa, OLB Amari Gainer
Defensive linemen
No edge depth, no problem? Lately, the Patriots’ increased use of base (four defensive backs) has put three defensive tackles on the field alongside one outside linebacker (Dre’Mont Jones). On Thursday, that meant Christian Barmore on one edge with fellow tackles Milton Williams and Cory Durden inside.
Disappointing day from a 1-on-1 pass rush standpoint. Williams went 0-1-1, while Durden lost both of his reps.
Joshua Farmer was first up after Durden, a recent theme after fellow reserves Eric Gregory and Leonard Taylor saw some run with the starters last week.
Taylor recorded two pressures during 11-on-11 work, but went 0-2 during individual pass rush drills.
Linebackers
Welcome to the top defense, Gabe Jacas. The Pats’ second-round rookie took a handful of snaps with the starters from the first team period.
Jacas, whose reps have steadily increased over the week, has by no means dominated for even a stretch of practice, but flashes of excellent upper-body strength and burst off the line are there. He won a few pass-rush reps that did not result in direct pressure during team drills.
Dre’Mont Jones came back down to Earth after his two-sack practice Tuesday, the team’s last full-speed day. He didn’t have a pressure and posted a losing record in 1-on-1 pass rush drills.
A quiet camp continues for Elijah Ponder, who will likely sit if/when Harold Landry is activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Inside, Chad Muma started again next to Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss during snaps of base defense.
Muma and undrafted rookie Khalil Jacobs again led the second-team unit, while veteran K.J. Britt led the third-team defense at middle linebacker. Jacobs remains on the rise.
Defensive backs
Third-year corner Charles Woods continues to start opposite Christian Gonzalez in team drills, but has given up a catch almost daily.
Behind them, the battle for backup corner jobs rages on with no clear leader. Free-agent addition Kindle Vildor and former seventh-rounder Kobee Minor, who have been torched at times in camp, were first off the bench Thursday.
Vildor did not allow a catch with the starting defense, while Minor was closest to a catch A.J. Brown secured on a comeback route.
Rookies Karon Prunty and Channing Canada took their turns on the first-team defense earlier this week, but they were fixtures on the backup units Thursday.
Safeties Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson supplied some of the best coverage plays between individual drills and 11-on-11 play. Woodson blanketing an incomplete pass for Kayshon Boutte set an early tone.
Veteran safety Mike Brown took several first-team snaps for the first time since the start of camp, as he and Dell Pettus battle for the No. 3 job.
Special teams
Kick returners: Kyle Williams, Lan Larison, Efton Chism, Channing Canada, Kobe Prentice, Terrell Jennings
Starting kick return team: Mack Hollins, K.J. Britt, Chad Muma, Mike Brown, Dell Pettus, Eli Raridon, Namdi Obiazor, Marcellas Dial Jr., Reggie Gilliam
Extra points
Christian Gonzalez, Kayshon Boutte, Craig Woodson, Leonard Taylor III, Marcus Bryant and Bradyn Swinson spoke with reporters after practice.
The Patriots will hold their 12th training camp practice Friday at 10:15 a.m. Fan admission and parking are free.
Players will be off over the weekend before returning for a practice Monday and joint session with the Colts on Tuesday.