Mini-Camp
The Patriots conducted the mini-camp practice in shorts, shells, and helmets with no contact. The following players were missing from practice:
Missing
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster –Inj
WR Tyquan Thornton – Inj
WR Kayshon Boutte –Inj
G Mike Onwenu – Inj
T Trent Brown – The plane was canceled due to a hail storm
DL Lawrence Guy – Contract Issue
DB Quandre Mosely
Released
RB James Robinson – is rumored to have flunked his physical
CB Tae Hayes
I have the Patriots Roster at 87
Red Non-Contact Jersey
LB Marte Mapu
OK Antonio Mafi
ST Cody Davis was present but Injured
DL Keion White spent time with the Training Staff and sat out the last half of practice
Mac Jones was outstanding in 7-on-7 completing 20 of 20 passes. In 11-on11 he was 16 0f 22 with 2 INT late. He claimed that Kyle Dugger asked for the interception and he obliged. It appeared the secondary sped up during this drill that was supposed to be at ¾ speed. Bailey Zappe was with the 2nd team mostly.
An interesting secondary lineup had Christian Gonzalez and Jack Jones as boundary corners, and Jonathan Jones as slot corner. That group has me excited to go along with the group of safeties and their flexibility.
UDFA Jourdan Heilig a LB from Appalachian State, has worked exclusively with Cam Achord and Matthew Slater as a gunner. Heilig was not coming out for the draft this year and never worked out at the Appalachian State Pro Day. He put his name into the player portal to try and get starter playing time as a grad student. He received no offers and thought his football career was over. That was until he got a call from the Patriots. I searched high and low to get a 40 time on Heilig and NFL Draft Scout had him in the 4.78 – 4.95 range. That’s not fast for a gunner. On the other side, Ameer Speed does have the speed as a gunner (4.34) and performed at the highest level playing 3 years for Georgia and then one season for Michigan State.
With the release of Robinson, Ty Montgomery looks to have a bigger role with the Patriots. He is playing Wide Receiver and now will probably get the 3rd down back role as well. Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris will get the touches spelling Rhamondre Stevenson.
Kendrick Bourne had to run a lap for jumping offside. Mac Jones has developed a really good snap cadence and he is driving the Defense crazy. Carl Davis was his victim today and he had to run a lap. Jones has done this in every practice that has been open to the media.
Bryce Baringer was wearing a dark face shield and he didn’t take any punting snaps. The report is that he got poked in the eye.
Tre Nixon had a deep catch for a TD from Trace McSorley.
With Michael Owenu and Antonio Mafi out, Bill Murray was in as the starting RG. Riley Reiff was not in the starting O line. Connor McDermott got the nod with the ones.
Hopkins to Visit Patriots
WR DeAndre Hopkins has stated that he will visit with the Patriots this week. He is first stopping off with a visit to the Tennessee Titans. This answers the question of whether or not Hopkins could play for Bill O’Brien as the Patriots’ Offensive Coordinator. The Patriots have the cap room to make an incentive-laden deal with Hopkins. It will probably take a three-year deal at an Average Annual Value of $14M per season. All the guaranteed money would be in the 1st two years, making the final year just a reason to stretch out the bonus for a lower salary cap hit. Given the early injury issues we are seeing with the WRs, I think bringing Hopkins into the fold is worth the investment. If they sign Hopkins I would make a corresponding move the release Parker.
DJ Fluker to Visit Patriots
Former Alabama All-American RT DJ Fluker is scheduled for a visit. The 2013 1st round pick of San Diego has played 9 years in the league for 7 teams. The 32-year-old tackle is massive at 6’5” and 330lbs but hasn’t played in the league since 2020. I have seen his workout video and I think it’s worth bringing him into camp. He looks to be in great shape and strong as hell.
Patriots Hall of Fame Induction
The date is set for the Induction Ceremony. The Patriots announced that Mike Vrabel and Dante Scarnecchia will be inducted on Saturday, October 21st. Vrabel described it as quite the honor, one he never thought about until it happened. The ceremony starts at 12:00 noon, on the Enel Plaza outside the Hall at Patriot Place. This event is Free and open to the public. The Hall of Fame ceremony will kick off a weekend where the Patriots are scheduled to play the Buffalo Bills at Gillette on Sunday.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
