MORSE: Notes From Patriots Training Camp

Training Camp Practice today was moved inside on Monday and closed to the public because of the inclement weather.

Attendance

Out: Carlton Davis, Caeden Wallace, David Blay

PUP: Harold Landry, CJ Dippre

NFI: Brenden Schooler

Returned: Terrell Jennings

Limited: Kyle Williams DNP

Training Camp Day 8

Play of the Day – Kayshon Boutte toe-tap TD catch from DeVito in the corner of the end zone. Good day for Boutte despite one drop

AJ Brown dislocated his thumb and was looked at by the trainers and returned to practice with a brace.

Kayshon Boutte ended practice with an awesome touchdown catch from Tommy DeVito. He had a few nice catches today

– Mark Daniels

Rookie Gabe Jacas slightly upped his participation on Monday with a handful of full team reps. Also took a lone 1-on-1 rep and beat tackle Lorenz Metz.

– Brian Hines

Patriots 8/3 Passing Stats:

Drake Maye: 4/8 (7s), 7/13 (11s)

Tommy DeVito: 5/6 (7s), 11/16 (11s)

Behren Morton: No Reps (7s), 4/4 (11s)

One of DeVito’s incompletions in 11s bounced right off the hands of Kayshon Boutte on a slant. Who had the most catches in team? Mack Hollins with five. Nick DeGennaro also came down with a deep ball from Morton, which also could have been picked off by Karon Prunty. Both got tangled up and thought they won. The longest throw of the day.

– Ethan Hurwitz

Karon Prunty had a pass breakup on AJ Brown in the end zone on a Drake Maye pass. It was a nice play by the rookie cornerback

– Mark Daniels

Patriots LT Will Campbell went 2-0 again today in 1-on-1s to continue his strong start to camp. He looks healthy, strong and has more variety in his pass sets. “I feel good. My body feels good. I’m just trying to be as consistent as I can be.”

– Evan Lazar

Competitive practice with a lot of jawing back and forth between the offense and defense .., and it ends with WR Kayshon Boutte flashing late hands on an end-zone fade from QB Tommy DeVito for the tight-window TD (CB Karon Prunty in coverage).

– Mike Reiss

Brown later caught a touchdown in a 7-on-7 period with Gonzalez in tight coverage. Seemed like Brown had a few words for Gonzalez immediately after the play. Competitive, spirited session despite having to go into the field house due to rain.

Thought Caleb Lomu went 3-3 in his 1-on-1 reps. One rep (against Quintayvious Hutchins) looked like a loss, but there may have been an early jump on the defense because the rep was immediately replayed.

First rep came against Dre’Mont Jones, who tried to gain an edge by jumping around Campbell. Didn’t take much given Jones left his feet, but some contact from Campbell got Jones on the ground quickly.

– Phil Perry

– Lots of run game today with quick game, play action, and screens mixed in

– Carlton Davis and Caedan Wallace were absent, Terrell Jennings returns from NFI, and Kyle Williams was present but didn’t participate

– Gabe Jacas took some of his first team reps and beat Lorenz Metz in 1v1 drills

– Competitive day for Karon Prunty and Channing Canada. Gave up some plays but also knocked down a few passes, including a Prunty PBU in the EZ vs AJ Brown

– Romeo Doubs scored vs Gonzo in the corner of the EZ during 7v7, then caught a curl from Drake Maye during team

– Chad Muma had an impressive PBU on an angle route in a recent episode where vs Rhamondre Stevenson and later helped blow up a run in team

– Taylor Kyles

– First-team offense was successful on 2 of 5 red-zone drives (one was via the ground)

– Second-team was 4 of 5, and scored 2 TDs on 2 drives

– Caleb Lomu had 3 decisive losses to give him 5 in the last 3 practices. [Conflicting report?]

Mack Hollins had a relatively quiet start to his second summer in Foxborough. That changed on Monday, with the veteran taking center stage and leading all receivers in catches and touchdowns during 11-on-11s.

Working as a second-string option behind the starting trio of A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs and DeMario Douglas, he hauled in five passes, including three scores.

– Brian Hines

Efton Chism III: Mack Hollins’ workout buddy made the most of his opportunities on Monday, including seeing some time with Drake Maye and the top offense in lieu of an injured Kyle Williams. He finished with three receptions in team drills, including an impressive high-point touchdown over Marcellas Dial, and also was part of the first kickoff returners duo alongside Terrell Jennings.

– Bernd Buchmasser

– Competitive play between UDFA WR Nick DeGenarro and rookie CB Karon Prunty on a deep ball from Morton. Simultaneous catch went to DeGenarro.

– A.J. Brown seemed to aggravate his hand on a jam from Christian Gonzalez but kept practicing

– RB Terrell Jennings returns off NFI

– WR Kyle Williams was a late arrival and didn’t participate

– Busy day for Efton Chism

Chad Muma: With undrafted rookie Khalil Jacobs putting some pressure on veteran backups K.J. Britt and Chad Muma, the latter delivered a good performance on Monday. Not only did he see some action with the starters, he also had a pass breakup against Rhamondre Stevenson and looked good as a run defender, including on one quick stuff.

Channing Canada & CB Karon Prunty: With Carlton Davis remaining sidelined, the Patriots opted to give a pair of rookie cornerbacks some opportunities with the starters. Canada was particularly impressive, allowing just one catch on three targets and also winning a 1-on-1 against Romeo Doubs. Prunty, meanwhile, provided some good coverage on a fade intended for A.J. Brown.

Kindle Vildor: Entering training camp, Vildor looked like a candidate to challenge for the CB4 spot. However, not only does Charles Woods seem fairly secure in that position, the youngsters have also started taking some reps from him. To make matters worse, he also was beat by Mack Hollins on a fade touchdown. Not the best day for the veteran.

– Brian Hines

Comings and Goings

The Patriots signed DT Casey Rogers and he was in uniform wearing the number of David Blay. The Patriots announced the Rogers transaction. I believe they have waived Blay with an injury designation. It appears to be Rogers for Blay.

Rogers, 27, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent in 2024. The Oregon product started his career with the Giants, for whom he appeared in three games over two separate stints. He also spent time with the Bills. Most recently, the 6-foot-4, 294-pound defensive tackle was with the UFL’s DC Defenders.

Blay Jr, 23, spent his college career at West Chester, Louisiana Tech and Miami. He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in early May, following a successful workout at the team’s rookie minicamp.

Ja’lynn Polk Retires

In what was the worst trade in Patriots history, Elliot Wolf traded their second-round selection (#34) in the 2024 Draft to LA Chargers for the #37 selection and a 4^th round pick. The Chargers selected Ladd McConkey, the player I wanted, and the Patriots selected Jaylin Polk, WR, Washington. Javon Baker was the 4^th round pick (#110) that was acquired with the 37^th pick. Both players are out of the league already.

Polk underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in August of his second season before being traded to the New Orleans Saints in September. Polk was an absolute bust on the field, and the Pats shipped him and a 2028 7^th round pick to New Orleans for a 2026 6^th round pick. In 2024, Polk played 7 games and had 12 catches on 33 Targets, for 87 yards, 8.7 YPC, and 2 TDs. New Orleans placed Polk on the Retired Reserve list this weekend.

Most GMs would get fired over a move like this, but somehow Eliot Wolf stayed on. I will say that Wolf was forced to use Bill Belichick’s grading system on prospects, but to make that big of a colossal mistake usually gets you fired.

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About Mark Morse

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.

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