5 takeaways from Day 2 of Patriots training camp
An efficient Drake Maye, a slimmer Christian Barmore, and an absent Ja'Lynn Polk were among the top storylines from Day 2.
FOXBOROUGH — The short passing game was a major point of emphasis during the Patriots’ second training camp practice.
There were plenty of screen passes to receivers and running backs. Quick slants and short routes underneath were a part of the mix. There were some slightly longer posts, and a few deep shots at the end, but Thursday’s practice was mostly about keeping it simple and starting off drives with positive plays.
“Just being good on first down. Positive plays on first down,” running back Rhamondre Stevenson said. “Don’t go backwards with pre-snap penalties and things like that. We did alright but we still have work to do.”
The result was a crisp, two-hour practice where the Patriots’ speedier pass-catchers got a chance to work with the ball in space. There weren’t many incompletions, because there weren’t a ton of risky plays.
Drake Maye went 14-for-15. Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, and rookie Kyle Williams got involved. There weren’t any turnovers, though Maye did fumble a snap early in the practice.
Here are five takeaways from Thursday’s action in Foxborough:
Speedy receivers ruled the day
Training camp, at this point, is mostly about the passing game with players unable to hit each other in padless practices.
Offensive tackle Morgan Moses talked about how hard it is to block without pads on. The defensive guys aren’t allowed to tackle.
So, with the Patriots working on quick passes, Thursday was a day for the smaller, quicker guys. Douglas made a leaping catch on a throw from Josh Dobbs early in the practice. Efton Chism grabbed his first catch of the camp. Running back Trayveon Henderson made plays out of the backfield and in the screen game.
It was a quiet day for the tight-ends. New England’s tallest wide receiver, 6-foot-4 Mack Hollins was on the sideline in a red hoodie.
Diggs and Kayshon Boutte each made a catch during the first part of team drills. Williams, who had a big day on Wednesday, dropped a short pass from Maye on Thursday.
Stevenson got plenty of work with screens and short passes, including one where the receivers went deep and Maye went to Stevenson in the middle while the defenders chased the deeper routes.
Christian Barmore is noticeably slimmer than last year
Christian Barmore, who was playing at 325 pounds two years ago, looks noticeably slimmer this season.
He said his goal was to enter training camp at 305-pounds. He challenged himself to drop some weight and add more speed to his game.
Barmore, who missed all but four games last season following a blood clot scare, spent some time working separately off-to-the-side during team drills.
He declined to say exactly what the coaches had planned for him during that time.
Barmore said he plans on being available for Week 1.
Rookie OL Jared Wilson getting reps in the interior
So far, the Patriots’ starting offensive line unit has been: Will Campbell, Cole Strange, Garrett Bradbury, Mike Onwenu, and Morgan Moses.
But rookie offensive lineman Jared Wilson has started to creep into the mix with some first-team reps at center and left-guard over the past two days.
Strange, a 2022 first-round pick who primarily plays left-guard, missed all but three of the Patriots’ games last season as he recovered from a torn patellar tendon.
The center position became a bit of a revolving door for the Patriots in 2024 after David Andrews went down with a season-ending injury. New England brought in Bradbury, a veteran center who has 88 career starts over six seasons. He started all 17 games with the Vikings last year.
It’s early, but seeing Wilson in the mix with the first-teamers the last couple days was something that stood out.
Ja’Lynn Polk absent again
Second-year receiver Ja’Lynn Polk has yet to participate in New England’s training camp practices.
According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Polk passed his physical but has been experiencing minor muscle tightness.
While unproven, the Patriots’ receiver room has gotten fairly crowded with the additions of Diggs and Hollins. Douglas was New England’s most productive reciever last season.
There are a limited number of spots, and the Patriots have options including Polk, Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, and Javon Baker, as they pick and choose who gets to stay.
After producing 87 yards on 12 catches and a pair of touchdowns during his rookie season, Polk’s absence for the first two practices was noticeable.
A couple of deep shots to Javon Baker
Josh Dobbs took shots at a couple of down-the-field-throws to Javon Baker near the end of practice. The first throw was a tad short, but still catchable. Baker dropped it.
Dobbs tried another deep throw to Baker on the next play, but the throw was nowhere near him.
Those two deep throws were among the longest attempts of the practice. Baker, a 2024 fourth-round pick who made just one catch for 12 yards last season, made some highlight-reel catches during training camp last year.
The Patriots seem to be giving him some chances as a deep threat. He’ll have to show he can produce if he wants to make the roster.
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