The New England Patriots kicked off their fifth day of training camp practices with a focus on pads on, contact increased, and attitudes intensified. Head coach Mike Vrabel outlined the team’s plan to work in the red zone, where speed and tighter windows are expected to play a crucial role. Here are some key observations from Monday’s practice:
Ja’Lynn Polk made his long-awaited camp debut, but faces strong competition for a spot on the 53-man roster. Meanwhile, cornerback Christian Gonzalez was forced to leave practice due to an apparent leg injury.
Quarterback Drake Maye completed 5-of-6 passes in red-zone drills, while reserve quarterback Joshua Dobbs went 2-of-2 during 11-on-11s. Rookie Ben Wooldridge also made a strong impression with two completions in his limited time on the field.
The Patriots’ offensive line showed promise in padded practices, but still has work to do against the team’s stout defensive front. Receiver Kayshon Boutte continued to make a strong case for a spot on the team, catching both of his targets in one-on-one matchups.
The defense was also on full display, with free agent veteran K’Lavon Chiasson contributing two sacks and the run stopper stuffing eight of 27 runs in 11-on-11s. The Patriots will return to practice fields adjacent to Gillette Stadium for their sixth day of training camp sessions, set to begin at 10:15am ET on Tuesday.
Source: https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/news/new-england-patriots-training-camp-notebook-pads-christian-gonzalez-out