Patriots training camp notebook: Offseason additions active at wide receiver

· Yahoo Sports

Jul 28, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs (87) makes a catch during training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

While the pads remained on for the New England Patriots on Saturday, the practice scripts were thrown away as Mike Vrabel and the coaching staff instead simulated in-game drives.

“There is no script, so the players won’t have what the play is or what the situation is, which we always like to do here, and give them an opportunity to go play, get into a little bit of rhythm, get into a little bit of conditioning, create a drive,“ Vrabel explained.

Visit newsbetting.bond for more information.

Even in a simulated session with full pads, it was more of a low-key day at times but plenty of work was done on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium. Here’s what went down.

Attendance

Absent: CB Carlton Davis III, OG Alijah Vera-Tucker (new/rest), FB Reggie Gilliam (new)

Returnee: DT Christian Barmore

Limited: OT Morgan Moses, WR A.J. Brown, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Marcus Jones, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, ED Gabe Jacas

PUP/NFI: RB Terrell Jennings, TE C.J. Dippre, ED Harold Landry III, S Brenden Schooler

Injuries: OG Caedan Wallace, OT James Hudson

For their third straight padded practice, Mike Vrabel gave several veterans limited workloads as they departed practice early while Morgan Moses just participated in competitive periods.

“There is just trying to have a plan for everybody and try to finish this third day off really well,” Vrabel said. “Like we always talk about, whether those guys are out there or not, that provides opportunities for other players, and we’ve seen guys do well with those opportunities that they’ve been given.”

New England did remain without Carlton Davis for the third straight practice, while depth offensive lineman Caedan Wallace and James Hudson were banged up at various parts of practice and spent time with the training staff.

In a positive development, rookie pass rusher Gabe Jacas was activated off the NFI list and participated in a limited capacity (no full-team work) on Saturday.

Takeaways

Brown and Doubs: It’s been a relatively quiet start to training camp for free agent addition Romeo Doubs, but the 26-year old had his most productive practice of the day on Saturday. Starting in 7-on-7s, Doubs hauled in a pair of passes from Maye over the middle of the field before going on to catch all three of his targets in full-team work.

The lone blemish may have been a fumble on his final reception (although the whistle may have blown the play dead). As for fellow offseason addition A.J. Brown, the top receiver caught all three of his targets from Drake Maye — including a contested ball against Gonzalez — before departing.

Additionally at wide receiver, DeMario Douglas had downfield receptions from both Maye and Tommy DeVito. Kyle Williams could not connect on his deep ball from Maye, but had three catches from DeVito with two coming through contact. Fellow second-year receiver Efton Chism then had two receptions from DeVito over the middle and a pair of manufactured touches.

Doubs and Williams both appeared to be banged up at times but finished practice.

Defensive turnovers: It has been multiple practices since the Patriots secondary has forced a turnover — let alone an incompletion as Drake Maye has been extremely efficient in two padded practices. On Saturday, New England’s defense got on the board as safety Dell Pettus jumped a throw to Mack Hollins for an interception.

Pettus, who had numerous competitive plays in the secondary today, was not the only defensive back to haul in an interception as rookie cornerback Karon Prunty used his high school wide receiver background to track and intercept a deep ball from Tommy DeVito.

Maye’s day: After back-to-back impressive days for Drake Maye, the quarterback’s performance on Saturday was a slight step below highlighted by the interception to Pettus and an overthrow while targeting Kayshon Boutte.

But even in a day with a few blemishes, Maye still delivered on several downfield throws which included a contested catch by A.J. Brown working through Christian Gonzalez and completions to Boutte on a pretty back shoulder ball and DeMario Douglas.

Accurate Andy: New England’s sophomore kicker Andy Borregales does not have any competition this training camp, and his performance to date has proved why. On Saturday, Borregales appeared to connect on all five of his field goal attempts with the distance moving back from prior practices — as his final kick seemed to come from roughly 55 yards out.

Through seven practices, Borregales is now 21-of-23 on his attempts.

Other notes:

  • With Rhamondre Stevenson limited, TreVeyon Henderson operated as the top back with Lan Larison behind him. Larison put the ball on the ground once on a screen while running lanes remained limited besides one notable run up the middle from Henderson.
  • UDFA tight end Tanner Arkin continues to rep with the first-team and caught a play-action bootleg in the flat from Maye.
  • With Alijah Vera-Tucker limited, Ben Brown served as the starting left guard. Caleb Lomu repped at right tackle when Morgan Moses was out.
  • Dre’Mont Jones was in the backfield off a stunt for what likely would have been a sack, while Elijah Ponder continued to be notable along the edge as well. Bradyn Swinson and rookie Quintayvious Hutchins had strong showing in 1-on-1s.
  • Joshua Farmer had strong reps along the interior in 1-on-1s and was quickly in the backfield on one instance for a run stuff.
  • At linebacker, Chad Muma was often around the football in the run game coming downhill while Christian Elliss had an impressive pass breakup in 7s downfield on Pop Douglas.
  • Charles Woods remained the top backup cornerback in place of Carlton Davis. With Gonzalez then limited, Kobee Minor, Kindle Vildor, and Prunty got work in his place.
  • The Patriots will be off on Sunday before returning to practice on Monday, which is set to begin at 10:15 a.m. ET.

Read full story at source