Wednesday Patriots Notebook 7/24: Training Camp Kicks Off
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Some Patriots news and notes on this Wednesday:
The New England Patriots are set to hold their first training camp practice of the 2024 preseason this morning, with the session currently scheduled for 11:00am on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium.
After having all the players check in and be evaluated on Tuesday, the club went ahead and made some transactions, placing several players on PUP to begin the summer, along with one that went on the non-football injury list.
To no one’s surprise, both wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and Cole Strange were among the names placed on PUP, as Bourne and Strange are each recovering from knee surgeries. Bourne has been relatively upbeat all offseason and the club obviously extended him this spring, so the belief appears to be that he’ll be ready to go at some point.
Strange’s situation is a little different. After suffering a knee injury last preseason, which, according to reports, the second-year offensive lineman was aware it required surgery. However, Strange elected to play through it, missing the first game of the season but playing in Weeks 3 and 4, before spending the next three weeks on the inactive list.
Still, he returned in Week 7 and played every game from there up until he seemingly re-aggravated it in Week 15 against Kansas City, which ended his season.
Reports have since indicated that it’s significant enough where he could potentially miss half of this upcoming season, while another report by Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard in the spring revealed that there’s also a possibility he may miss this season entirely.
Joining those two to begin training camp on PUP are also offensive lineman Jake Andrews and linebacker Sione Takitaki. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Takitaki underwent an offseason knee procedure, which is why he’s starting out training camp with that designation. Like Bourne, the team clearly felt there wasn’t anything significant to be concerned about when it came to the veteran linebacker, as they signed him this offseason to a two-year deal.
Meanwhile, Antonio Gibson will begin the preseason with the non-football injury designation. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe mentioned that it’s possible Gibson suffered some sort of injury away from the facility, albeit that’s pure speculation to this point as Volin is reporting that simply based on the definition provided by the league:
“The Non-Football Injury or Illness list (NFI) is similar to the PUP list, but it is used for players who suffered injuries or ailments outside of NFL activities. Players who begin the season on NFI (as of cutdowns to 53-man rosters) can be activated after the team has played its first four regular season games.”
There haven’t been any previous indications of any issue with him prior to when Gibson appeared on the league’s transaction wire on Tuesday.
Jerod Mayo is set to meet with the media this morning at 10:30am, so it’s possible we’ll find out more then.
As fans begin coming out to the stadium to watch the team practice, Mayo said yesterday that his message to those same fans is that the focus this season is getting back to playing winning football and working to improve each day.
“My message to the fans is it’s all about winning football games. That’s what it comes down to. It comes down to winning football games,” said Mayo. “No matter what the expectation is from everyone outside this building, we’re going to go work each and every day and we’re going to get better.”
“We’re going to put a good product, a good team out there on the field that you’ll be proud of. Now, whether that’s tomorrow or next year, I don’t know. But I will say that this team, I like the way they’re coming together.”
For now, the offseason is finally behind us, and it will definitely be nice to start following this team’s journey as the begin preparing for the start of this upcoming 2024 NFL season.
The Patriots have been rumored to have been interested in each of the various receiver names that have come up as potential trade options this offseason, with one of the most recent names being San Francisco’s Brandon Aiyuk.
Multiple reports revealed that the club inquired about him, but the overall message out of San Francisco is that the 49ers have “no interest” in trading him at this time.
Still, the fact that New England has kicked the tires throughout the process tells you that they’re continuing to look at ways to improve this current group, which is something Mayo alluded to yesterday when asked if they were potentially interested in any of those guys. He also pointed out that given their place on the waiver wire, that gives them an edge should another team be forced to part ways with a player who also might be able to help them.
“We’re always interested in getting the best players on our team. Now, whatever that looks like, look, we’re third on the waiver wire as well,” said Mayo. “There’ll be some quality players that get released for various reasons, and we’ll have an opportunity to continue to improve our roster. So if you’re going to sit there and ask me, ‘Will we take a good player no matter what position?’ Absolutely. Absolutely. If it helps us get better. Not only today, but also in the future.”
This is obviously a key season for second-year defensive back Christian Gonzalez, who is reportedly healthy after suffering a shoulder injury just four games into last season. Gonzalez was just 18 snaps into their week four match-up against the Cowboys before the rookie injured his shoulder, knocking him out of the game. He was listed the ensuing week on the injury report and didn’t practice, with the club later placing him on injured reserve. Jonathan Jones was asked about him on Tuesday and compared his demeanor to former Patriots defensive back Stephon Gilmore, and he’s excited to see him back out there. “Much of the same,” said Jones on what he’s seen from Gonzalez so far recently. “Since he’s been here last year, he comes in, doesn’t say much. He reminds me of [Stephon] Gilmore in the sense it doesn’t really say much, but when they step out on the field, they’re playmakers. It’s exciting to see him back, coming him off an injury, I think it’s going to be good for him.” … As for Jones, he was asked where we might see him play on defense this season, and the veteran said that he’s open to wherever they need him to play. “Like every year, just wherever they need me,” said Jones. “I enjoy playing football, whether it’s inside, outside, safety. I’ve done it all here in my career here, and I’m just enjoying playing where the team needs me. I’m prepared to play there.” … Jones made an interesting comment Tuesday when it comes to the fact they haven’t had a true free safety since the retirement of Devin McCourty. Jones pointed out the benefit of not necessarily having a guy who plays there exclusively allows them to disguise their coverages. “I don’t know. I mean, we have a lot of good safeties,” said Jones when asked if the team needs to have a true free safety. “I think the good thing between Pep [Jabril Peppers] and Doug [Kyle Dugger] is you don’t know who is where, what. They can kind of disguise a little bit more who’s going to line up at free, who’s going to line up at strong. But it’s always good to have a guy like Devin, who’s back there as a general manager of the defense and kind of coaching and getting guys lined up. I wouldn’t say you need it, but it’s always good to have a guy like that. ”
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