Patriots and Saints slow practice way down ahead of preseason matchup
The Patriots and Saints participated in a joint practice on Wednesday that looked at times like a two-team walkthrough. The most notable action came during 2-on-2 drills, where wide receivers squared off against defensive backs. There was also a full-speed 11-on-11 session with Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett and Saints quarterback Garrett Grayson running the third-team offenses on two different fields.
The teams will face off in a preseason matchup on Thursday at Gillette Stadium.
Patriots attendance
Red non-contact jerseys: Logan Ryan, Jonathan Freeny, Chris Hogan, and quarterbacks Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Jacoby Brissett.
Absences: Dion Lewis, Danny Amendola, Sebastian Vollmer, Rob Ninkovich, Tre’ Jackson, Jonathan Cooper, and Bryce Williams.
Returning from absences: Nate Solder returned to practice. Julian Edelman and Keshawn Martin also returned, but neither of them played with the team for the entire session.
Observations
- Tom Brady began the practice with a walkthrough. Chris Harper, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Dobson, Chris Hogan, and Brandon Bolden took those first-team reps with Brady.
- Brissett also led a walkthrough, working with third-teamers Devin Lucien, DeAndre Carter, Steven Scheu, and Bear Pascoe.
- Garoppolo did a 7-on-7 walkthrough with Lucien, Hogan, Dobson, Carter, Nate Washington, Malcolm Mitchell, and LeGarrette Blount. Garoppolo discussed his large rotation of receivers after practice. “It’s tough right now because you don’t know who the first unit is or who the second unit is,” he said. “I kind of like how Coach [Belichick] does it. We rotate in and out. Injuries are going to happen throughout the year so you have to be able to play with different guys and adapt to how they play. I think it’s a good situation to put us out there like that.”
- Keshawn Martin left the field after a brief time on the practice field. Julian Edelman also disappeared during the early stages of practice, but not before catching a few balls from Brady.
- Both teams practiced punt protection and returns, field goals, and onside kick coverage.
- During 2-on-2 drills where defensive backs matched up against receivers, Hogan got open for a touchdown catch.
- The Patriots appeared to be drilling rub routes during a couple of repetitions. In one set, Washington appeared to get confused and stopped in his tracks. A Patriots coach raised his arms at Washington, and pulled him aside after the rep.
- The 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 work for Brady, Garoppolo, Drew Brees, and Luke McCown was not faster than half-speed. The first-team offensive line went as follows:
- Nate Solder (left tackle), Joe Thuney (left guard), Bryan Stork (center), Shaq Mason (right guard), Marcus Cannon (right tackle).
- Brady practiced a hard count during 11-on-11’s, but couldn’t draw anyone offsides. He then threw a Hail Mary pass to Martellus Bennett. The defense didn’t attempt to cover the play.
- While watching 11-on-11 drills, Brady and Hogan stood together with their helmets off in the pouring rain. They appeared to have a long conversation.
- A number of players struggled to catch the ball in the rain: Mitchell, Bennett and Saints tight end Coby Fleener had drops during practice.
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