The New England Patriots began their first joint training camp session with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday as a leadup to the preseason game between them Friday night.
Heading into practice, Isaiah Wynn, Bill Murray, Justin Herron, Malcolm Butler, Joejuan Williams, Cody Davis, and Andrew Stueber were all absent. Hunter Henry was limited and left practice early.
On offense against the Panthers’ defense, QB Mac Jones was 21/30 and an INT in 11v11s and 7/10 in 7v7s. QB Brian Hoyer went 12/17 in 11v11s and 1/3 in 7v7s. A notable result towards the end of practice saw a two-minute drill simulation with a Jones pass intercepted in the end zone as time expired.
The Patriots receivers also had trouble holding onto the ball, as numerous players fumbled during 7-on-7s.
Despite the struggles, a few bright spots occurred in the passing game. Mac Jones connected with DeVante Parker on a pair of jump balls and found Jakobi Meyers, Tyquan Thornton, and Nelson Agholor on slants and drag routes. Thornton also had a highlight catch during 1-on-1s against Panthers corner Kalon Barnes.
The Patriots’ defense continued their strong summer and caused havoc all over the field.
The defense caused eight would-be sacks as Matthew Judon and Deatrich Wise each logged two, and Christian Barmore, Daniel Ekuale, Justin Bethel, and Kyle Dugger landed the others.
The secondary also put together a dominant day thanks to numerous pass breakups by Jalen Mills (3), Shaun Wade (2) (INT), Marcus Jones, and Terrance Mitchell. During all team periods, Jalen Mills didn’t allow a single pass.
So what was the most memorable takeaway from Tuesday’s practice? A big fight broke out between both teams after a sideline tackle on Patriots receiver Kristian Wilkerson. Both players went at it on the ground, drawing other players in, and punches were thrown.
As a result, three Patriots players, including Wilkerson, Kendrick Bourne, and James Ferentz were all kicked out of practice.
Bill Belichick and Panthers head coach Matt Rhule then had to bring their teams together to restore order.
“I don’t really have anything to say about that,” Ty Montgomery said after practice. “Everybody saw what happened. Fights happen. It is what it is.” “You can’t fight in a game and you can’t do it in practice,” Damien Harris added.
The two teams will be back at it again Wednesday morning.
You can view the best social media sights and sounds from Tuesday below.
Good crowd here today for Day One of #Patriots – @Panthers joint practices – @wbz @Patriots @GilletteStadium pic.twitter.com/rwC4GcMESC
— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) August 16, 2022
Patriots WRs working on hitch routes pic.twitter.com/MuE7YbzrMA
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) August 16, 2022
Tyquan Thornton over-the-shoulder grab during positional drills. pic.twitter.com/gspDP9Oty2
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 16, 2022
Mac Jones ?? DeVante Parker pic.twitter.com/SzaNtDub2y
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 16, 2022
Patrick Chung is back and seems to be helping out Brian Belichick with the safeties. We’ve seen him at several Patriots practices now this camp.
Nate Ebner here, too. Wearing a Patriots hat. Was with the Giants (and Joe Judge) through last season. https://t.co/QzdKNydp80
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) August 16, 2022
Looks like Rob Ninkovich is also here and coaching up Josh Uche on a pass-rushing technique.
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 16, 2022
https://twitter.com/NBCSPatriots/status/1559545722495766531?s=20&t=9psQxkTD4_N8EQyZ9pJQ9Q
Highlight in 1-on-1s: Mac Jones to Tyquan Thornton with a diving catch in the end zone, with CB Kalon Barnes in tight coverage on the deep throw.
Thornton and Barnes, two burners, played together at Baylor and trained together before the NFL combine.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 16, 2022
Tyquan Thornton with a diving TD on a corner route against Panthers CB Kalon Barnes in 1-on-1s in front of us. When he gets a step, game over.
No Panthers CB can check Nelson Agholor right now. Too shifty.
On the other side, Jalen Mills and Jack Jones are locking people up.
— Khari Thompson (@kdthompson5) August 16, 2022
Couple highlights from OL-DL one-on-ones:
– Yodny Cajuste with a strong win over Yetur Gross-Matos. Had Cajuste 2-0.
– Trent Brown with a W over Brian Burns
– Cole Strange handled Derrick Brown
– Barmore with a clean win over Bradley Bozeman
– Wise over Deonte Brown
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) August 16, 2022
Marcus Jones won all three of his reps that I saw, including an aggressive PBU vs. Derek Wright.
Kyle Dugger had an INT.
Jakobi Meyers elevated for a nice catch over Sean Chandler.
— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) August 16, 2022
Justin Bethel is still a handful in punt coverage. He just threw a Panthers defender onto his back while being double-teamed.
— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) August 16, 2022
Patriots TEs in 1v1s vs Panthers
Devin Asiasi 3-1
Matt Sokol 3-1
Jonnu Smith 0-3, drop(No reps for Hunter Henry)
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) August 16, 2022
The #Patriots defense is all over the Carolina run game.
Matt Judon, Davon Godchaux, Christian Barmore and Anfernee Jennings all have run stuffs already in this first 11-on-11 period.
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 16, 2022
McCaffrey had a few good gainers for Carolina 1s in run-heavy 11s. But the #Patriots got them back with a Barmore stuff, Jennings stuff, and a Judon TFL where he beat the outside zone block by jumping inside.
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) August 16, 2022
Jonnu Smith also fumbled after getting popped by a Panthers defender. https://t.co/vCdySrnYCz
— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) August 16, 2022
Jakobi Meyers also fumbled out of bounds after a catch from Brian Hoyer
— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) August 16, 2022
https://twitter.com/HurwitzSports/status/1559560953645105154?s=20&t=9psQxkTD4_N8EQyZ9pJQ9Q
We got a fracas! Started with kristian Wilkerson near Carolina sideline. Some jawing ensued and then Panthers lost minds. Pats offense came across field to join. It settled. Then Kendrick Bourne ended up throwing a punch after squaring off. Bourne and Wilkerson now tossed off.
— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) August 16, 2022
Panthers Kenny Robinson and Patriots WRs Kristian Wilkerson and Kendrick Bourne were kicked off the practice field for fighting. https://t.co/53iQe3RDGe
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) August 16, 2022
Anyways, right before that scrum Mac Jones and Brian Burns had a nice moment with a handshake and a tap on the helmet. So things seem all cleared up between them.
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) August 16, 2022
Here’s how I saw it: Wilkerson caught an out route from Mac Jones and ended up in the Panthers bench area. A Carolina coach appeared to give Wilkerson a slight push as if to say, “back to your huddle.” Wilkerson whipped his head back and said something. Immediately got jumped. https://t.co/OObFViUF2G
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) August 16, 2022
Another skirmish by Carolina's defensive sideline.
A Panthers D-lineman jumped on Arlington Hambright as he and James Ferentz finished blocks to the ground. Panthers DT Phil Hoskins has been kicked out.
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 16, 2022
On the next play Mac threw deep to Nelson Agholor, who drew a DPI
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) August 16, 2022
In a simulated 2-minute drill with starters, the Panthers’ offense used a Christian McCaffrey wheel route to get down to the goal line. However, the Patriots’ defense got a Deatrich Wise sack, Jalen Mills goal line PBU, and forced incompletion to win the period
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) August 16, 2022
Mac Jones in the 2-minute drill.
?Ty Montgomery for 20
?Jonnu Smith for 10
?Montgomery for 5
?throwaway w/ pressure
?Montgomery for 5
?clock
INT — Jones gets picked off under pressure. Rough throw, brutal decision. Intedend for Jonnu Smith. https://t.co/I4z0dByL0K— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) August 16, 2022
An incompletion from Sam Darnold is wide of the end zone and sails off my hip into the Gatorade dispenser
— Alexandra Francisco (@ByAlFrancisco) August 16, 2022
Although the run game still needs work, thought this was the most aggressive/successful downfield passing day for Mac Jones and the starting offense. Couple high-point fades to Parker and a nice corner route to Meyers stand out. #Patriots
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) August 16, 2022
I took a pee https://t.co/xmgtxcooah
— Matthew Judon (@man_dammn) August 16, 2022
“At the end of the day, going against them is getting me better.”
Patriots players on the competitive first day of joint practices with the Panthers. pic.twitter.com/dFn6tQWSrS
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 16, 2022
Poor pad level low man wins https://t.co/D5sHpRh4Z8
— David Andrews (@dandrews61) August 16, 2022
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