Day 7
Absent – Christian Gonzalez, Garrett Bradbury, Harold Landry, Jahlani Tavai, Joshua Farmer
HC Vrabel hinted that Landry’s absence was a vet day off.
Carlton Davis showed up late to practice in uniform but did not participate.
Drake Maye was outstanding going 10 for 13. He would have been sacked 3 times and only had two passes over 10 yards.
The play of the day was a 40-yard fade pass from Maye to Kyle Williams. One observer called it “the definition of throwing a guy open.” DJ James had tight coverage but Maye put it where only his receiver could catch it.
Will Campbell had a tough day giving up two sacks and a pressure. He had his hands full of K’Lavon Chaisson. Another two sack day for Chaisson. Campbell gave up the sacks on an inside spin move by Chaisson. This was a known problem for Campbell at LSU and it doesn’t seem to have been corrected.
Despite Garrett Bradbury being out injured, Jared Wilson started at Left Guard. Ben Brown was the starting Center and Cole Strange was the backup. It appears that Wilson has won the starting LG competition. Let’s hope that he and Campbell can develop some symmetry before the first Joint Practice with Washington next week.
I have a big fear of starting two rookies next to each other. Perhaps Wilson and his inexperience missed the inside spin, and didn’t check the rusher, enabling Campbell time to reset.
Kick returners practiced for the first time today and they were; Pop Douglas, TreVeyon Henderson, Antonio Gibson, Lan Larison, Isaiah Bolden, and Kyle Williams
Starters at CB were Alex Austin, Marcellus Dial and UDFA DJ James
Taylor Kyles pointed out that Austin Hooper had a long catch and run on a screen, but got stripped at the end of the play. Looked like Anfernee Jennings was responsible
Evan Lazar pointed out “Nice job by Efton Chism sitting in an open zone void after a post-snap safety rotation. (Chism) saw it quickly. Pass from Dobbs”.
DJ James has impressed in camp and moved up the depth chart to the point that he was in the starting backfield today. According to coach Vrabel “DJ is one of those players that’s improved from the end of the spring until now, and he’s taken advantage of some players that aren’t there. So then he moves up a group or whatever that may be, and therefore he’s taken advantage of his opportunities and, you know, he’ll continue to earn more opportunities. But DJ is an improved player through the short time that we’ve been here.” In an interview right after practice James referred to himself in the third person “DJ James is always around the ball.”
In another presser, Caedan Wallace says he likes playing guard because he “likes to hit people”. Just what I want to hear from my O-linemen.
Kicking competition is heating up. Both John Parker-Romo and Andy Borregales hit all 4 of their kicks today. I have seen reports that Borregales’ kicks were a little iffy.
Sidy Sow was hurt in practice and walked off the field with the Trainers.
Thursday’s practice will be a walk-through in shorts and shells. Friday will be the in-stadium scrimmage for Season Ticket holders and Foxboro residents. The players will be off on Saturday and Sunday. Washington comes in for Joint Practices next week prior to the first Pre-Season game on Friday.
Off-Season Award Winners
Per Pats Pulpit, Khyiris Tonga seems poised to make the roster as a rotational interior defensive lineman, and he joined wide receiver DeMario Douglas, offensive lineman Cole Strange, and outside linebacker Truman Jones as the only players named offseason award winners. Tonga has been in the starting lineup alongside Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, and Keion White.
Three Players added to the Roster
With the injury to Garrett Bradbury (ankle), the Patriots were quick to add the 2022 Boston College grad Alec Lindstrom. The two-time 1st team All-ACC Center stands 6’3” 296-pounds and ran a 5.15 40 at the combine. Lindstrom was a 3-year starter at BC. He played for the Memphis Showboats of the UFL, as the starting Center beginning in 2024 and also this past spring.
This is what NFL Draft Buzz had to say about Lindstrom.
- High football iQ player with quick feet and outstanding lateral agility
- Has a surprisingly powerful base considering he is relatively undersized for the position
- Excellent in the screen game makes constant pancake blocks at the second level
- Plays with a nasty streak. Solid character and work ethic.
- Feisty, tough and plays with a competitive attitude.
- Ideal suited for a zone-blocking scheme
- Takes great angles and is rarely caught out with head fakes
- Very well-developed technique with elite hands. He latches on and won’t let go
- Dips shoulder and moves his feet to get outside leverage when needed. Strong and low coming out of his stance, effective in short-yardage situations.
- Finishes and doesn’t quit; competitor with a positive attitude and leadership traits that coaches admire.
- Very experienced center – has played his entire college career at an elite level. Outstanding overall pass protector
The Dudley, MA native is the son of former USFL lineman Chris Lindstrom. His uncles Eric Lindstrom and Dave Lindstrom also played in the NFL. His brother Chris Lindstrom currently plays for Atlanta Falcons and was named to the Pro Bowl and AP All-Pro 2nd team. His father coached Alec and his brother at Shepherd Hill Regional High School in Dudley.
Also added was Tyler Davis, 28, who was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft at No. 206 overall. The 6-foot-5, 252-pound tight end out of Georgia Tech appeared in eight contests during his rookie campaign and was waived at the league’s cutdown deadline in 2021. After a stop on the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad, Davis spent two seasons on the 53-man roster of the Green Bay Packers before seeing his 2023 and 2024 both end on injured reserve. His career has brought eight receptions for 61 yards across 39 games, including one start. Davis is very smart, graduating in three and a half years from UConn. He was also selected as an All-American Conference Academic Award winner.
The third player was Cole Fotheringham, 27. He entered the league as a UDFA in 2022. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end by way of Utah went on reside on the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad for consecutive years, twice serving as a standard elevation. Fotheringam joined the practice squad of the Houston Texans at its formation in 2024 and later returned to Las Vegas in the same capacity. He began the spring with the Denver Broncos before reaching an injury settlement in June.
The corresponding moves were to waive WR Dameer Blankumsee, waive Yasir Durant with an Injury designation, and release veteran RB Trayveon Williams. If Durant clears waivers, he will revert to IR. I have to think that Blankumsee received an injury settlement to get waived.
The Patriots also had FB/TE Duane Martin from Louisville and TE John Samuel Shenker from Auburn, both of whom were brought in for a look. Martin was invited and attended Rookie Minicamp but was not offered a contract.
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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.
Duane Martin is 6’2″ 260 so that would be a nice size for him to play FB in for Brock Lampe(IR). Regarding LG or any depth chart position, nothing much is set in stone first week in camp. What is known is people will move around to cross train for back up roles, and or competition for jobs. A few days ago, NBC Boston declared Cole Strange looked great in the run game and was effective pass blocking. They said “Strange looks like he’s got LG locked up”. They also had to remind the audience that Cole Strange has NFL… Read more »