FOXBOROUGH – During OTAs, the Patriots held a series of full-team drills pitting their offense against their defense.
Although players were going full speed, Tuesday’s practice felt different.
The team’s first day of minicamp showcased an intense environment that led to trash-talking between the offensive and defensive units.
The defense celebrated incomplete passes and short completions that came up shy of the end zone. When the offense scored, players on the sideline erupted, pointing out their success to their defensive teammates.
“It’s just another day and opportunity to get out there and get better,” Hunter Henry said. “That’s what we’re trying to attack every single day. Just take it day by day, not get too far ahead, not look at the past too much, just focus on the present. Yeah, it was good because we got a lot of guys coming back and got some new guys kind of coming in the fold. It’s always good to have kind of carryover, especially in the red zone.”
As Henry noted, Tuesday’s focus was in the red zone.
Drake Maye was very efficient, completing 19-of-22 passes on the day. That included touchdown passes to running back Rhamondre Stevenson and Henry. The quarterback also had a nice connection with A.J. Brown, who caught two of three passes.
Here are the top takeaways from Day 1 of Patriots minicamp:
Is Christian Gonzalez holding in?
Christian Gonzalez returned to Patriots practice – kind of.
The Pro Bowl cornerback opted to skip OTAs as his agents are in the middle of contract negotiations with the team. Although he was on the practice field on Tuesday, it was noteworthy that Gonzalez didn’t take any meaningful reps during full-team drills.
After practice, Gonzalez spoke to the media and reiterated that he wanted to stay in New England.
“Yeah, for sure. Of course I want to be here,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve said this multiple times. I’ve been drafted here. I want to be rewarded as a Patriot, and I love this town. I love this city. So, yeah, of course I want to be here.”
Why did he skip OTAs?
“I mean, felt like I could get my work in,” Gonzalez said. “I was able to talk to the coaches, and we talked about it and got some work in.”
Gonzalez took part in the warmup and individual drills to start practice. However, he stood in the back of the end zone during 11-on-11 drills. He didn’t participate in the competitive portion of practice while other players who also skipped OTAs did. That included cornerback Carlton Davis.
The Patriots starting defense had Davis and backup Kindle Vildor at outside cornerback while Marcus Jones played the slot.
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Gonzalez was asked if he was optimistic a deal would soon get done.
“I hope so,” he said. “I mean, It’s between them two. I mean, both sides to get it done. And like I said, I want to be here, so that’s what. That’s what I’m gonna say.”
Does he want to reset the market at his position?
“That’s another question that is between my agents and the Patriots and that team and what they value me at,” Gonzalez said.
A.J. Brown shines
It’s hard not to notice A.J. Brown.
At 6-foot-1, 226 pounds, the Pro Bowler sticks out among his peers on the practice field. Then when the action starts, it’s easy to see why Brown has earned multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.
On Tuesday, Maye’s third pass went to his newest receiver. That’s when Brown jumped up and over backup cornerback Kindle Vildor to make a nice catch on a back shoulder fade.
“He can do everything,” Gonzalez said of Brown. “He’s got the size, he’s got the speed, he’s got the route running. … He’s very smart, and I mean, that’s anything you want at a receiver. Excited that he’s here.”
Brown finished the practice with two catches on three targets. He received more reps on Tuesday than he did last week in OTAs, which marked his first practice with the Patriots. His teammates were excited that the team traded for the Pro Bowler.
“We’re excited to kind of obviously add a piece like that,” Henry said. “I mean, a guy that’s very established in this league, he’s made a lot of plays. It’s really going to help this football team tremendously.”
Added Kayshon Boutte: “A.J., I mean, y’all see what I see. All the 50-50 balls are really 100-0 with him. Big body receiver can win any matchup on the field.”
Kayshon Boutte’s fit in the offense
Boutte returned to the practice field on Tuesday after he also skipped OTAs.
After the Patriots signed Romeo Doubs and traded for Brown, Boutte has been the subject of trade rumors. Many question how this receiver would fit in with the Patriots after the new additions.
On Tuesday, we received a sneak peek.
The first time the Patriots played three receivers, they lined up Brown on the left side of the offensive line with DeMario Douglas in the slot on the right side next to Boutte out wide. It was interesting to see Boutte play ahead of Doubs on the depth chart.
After practice, he said he hopes to remain in New England.
“I wouldn’t mind being here. I do want to be here, obviously,” Boutte said. “I mean, at the end of the day, I do want to be here. So whether that’s X, Z, F, like just whatever I got to do, that’s best for me… There’s only one football. There’s five of us, you know, but that’s football.”
Boutte was the Patriots’ main X-receiver a year ago. That’s also the position that Brown plays. As Boutte said above, he’s willing to play any receiver position on the field.
On Tuesday, Boutte didn’t catch a pass from Maye, but had one reception from Tommy DeVito.
“All opportunities that do come to me, like I said, I got to make the best of them,” Boutte said.
Offensive line rotation includes rookie
It’s a good thing the Patriots drafted Caleb Lomu.
Last week, right tackle Morgan Moses left practice with an unknown injury. On Tuesday, the veteran wasn’t at the first day of minicamp. That led to more opportunities for Lomu.
The Patriots first-round pick was the team’s top right tackle on Tuesday. That is likely a sign of things to come as the team drafted Lomu to one day succeed Moses, who turned 35 this offseason.
Lomu, however, also showcased his versatility. The rookie also played left tackle at one point for the Patriots’ second-team offense.
The Patriots also started Will Campbell (left tackle), Alijah Vera-Tucker (left guard), Jared Wilson (center) and Michael Onwenu (right guard). Vera-Tucker was replaced by veteran backup Ben Brown in the first 11-on-11 period. That also happened during OTAs.
What’s happening with Gabe Jacas?
One of the biggest mysteries in New England revolves around the Patriots’ second-round pick, Gabe Jacas.
As of this week, the team has signed every draft pick other than Jacas, who was selected with the 55th pick. On Tuesday, Jacas was one of three players not at minicamp, joining Harold Landry and Moses.
Before practice, Mike Vrabel said all Patriots players who were under contract were at Gillette Stadium. Then, he noted that Jacas was not a part of the group here in Foxborough.
“He had a procedure, and he is not under contract,” Vrabel said.
It’s unknown why Jacas isn’t with the Patriots. However, Patriots outside linebackers coach Mike Smith did say the rookie is missing valuable time with the team.
“I mean, it would hurt anybody, unless you’re somebody like Harold that’s probably played 10, 11, 12 years, there’s not much that he hasn’t seen,” Smith said. “It’d be the same thing during the season if a guy missed a couple days in training camp here. But he’s a smart kid, and when he gets here, we’ll get rolling.
“I kind of stay away from whatever’s going on with him right now and all that stuff. But if we’re going to be honest, it does (hurt) a little bit.”
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