The Patriots are deep enough into camp now that the easy roster calls are mostly gone. With the eighth practice looming Monday and three full-pads sessions already in the books, the real fights are starting to show up in the margins - the backup jobs, the final receiver spots, the third safety role, the last couple of spots along the line.
At quarterback, the order is still exactly where it was. Drake Maye sits comfortably at the top, with Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton behind him in that order.
Morton, though, has earned attention. He’s getting a meaningful workload and has flashed some encouraging moments since the pads came on.
He’s not simply hanging on for dear life.
The running back battle is shifting a bit, too. Lan Larison is still listed third on the provisional depth chart, but he hasn’t matched the steadiness or splash plays that Jam Miller has brought. Right now, Miller looks like the more likely option to sit behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.
At wide receiver, Kyle Williams has started to find his footing after a quiet beginning to his second NFL camp. He still isn’t getting regular looks from Drake Maye and the top offense, but the trend line is moving in the right direction.
Kayshon Boutte has cooled off after a fast opening, although his connection with Maye remains one of the better ones on the roster and keeps showing up. Among the undrafted receivers, Cameron Dorner stands out as the strongest of the group, even if the path to making a roster that already includes A.J.
Brown, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Boutte, Mack Hollins, Williams and Efton Chism is brutally crowded.
Tight end has been steady. Hunter Henry remains the clear No.
1, Eli Raridon is still No. 2, and Tanner Arkin holds the third spot. That was the order before the padded work began, and it hasn’t moved.
If anything, Arkin has strengthened his case. The undrafted rookie has already made his mark as the team’s best blocking tight end.
Up front, the starting tackle trio of Will Campbell, Morgan Moses and Caleb Lomu hasn’t been challenged. The only real question is who fills the next slot, and that looks like a straight fight between Marcus Bryant and James Hudson. Hudson’s Saturday practice ended with an undisclosed injury, which only complicates that battle further.
The backup interior offensive line has seen a change since the pads went on. Caedan Wallace, a third-year player, has slipped out of one of the second-string guard spots and given way to Mehki Butler.
Wallace also got hurt on Saturday, which adds another layer to the situation. For now, Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich are leading the reserve group inside, with Butler now in the mix as well.
On the defensive line, the picture is mostly stable. Milton Williams and Christian Barmore are the clear starters, with Cory Durden rotating with the first unit.
Joshua Farmer and Leonard Taylor are the next depth options, and both have shown flashes without putting together the kind of consistency that would lock anything down. Eric Gregory has had a few positive moments, but no one else in that group has made a serious push.
The edge room got a boost with Gabe Jacas back, even though Harold Landry is still sidelined. Jacas, a second-round pick, has not yet shown his full range because he remains a limited participant, but he should eventually take a rotation role.
That could trim Elijah Ponder’s starter reps opposite Dre’Mont Jones. Bradyn Swinson is still mostly a reserve, though he’s shown some pass-rush ability.
Xavier Holmes, who had been making some noise as an undrafted free agent, has cooled off and may see fewer quality reps now that Jacas is back in the mix.
At linebacker, Khalil Jacobs is making a real case for himself. The undrafted rookie has put together several strong days and could be closing in on K.J.
Britt and Chad Muma, who are still the top backup linebackers. Neither spot is secure, so Jacobs has a real chance to pass one of them.
Special teams could end up deciding it, and that’s also where rookie Namdi Obiazor has gotten most of his meaningful work.
Cornerback has been shaped by Carlton Davis’ recent absence. With Davis out, Charles Woods has been getting starter reps and now looks like the current CB4 behind Christian Gonzalez, Davis and Marcus Jones.
The next two spots are still up for grabs among Kindle Vildor, Karon Prunty, Kobee Minor and Marcellas Dial Jr. Minor has had some rough patches, especially on Thursday and Friday, and he’ll need to clean those up to stay in the hunt.
Safety has produced one clear winner so far: Dell Pettus. The third-year defensive back picked off a pass on Saturday and seems to be finding his rhythm.
Mike Brown, his main competition for the third safety job, has been more uneven over the last few practices. John Saunders Jr., who has also occupied that third spot at times, has mostly been working on special teams and with the third unit.
Special teams remains unchanged. Andy Borregales, Bryce Baringer and Julian Ashby are alone at their positions.
Marcus Jones is still the top punt returner. On kickoff returns, Kyle Williams and Lan Larison have been the top two.
In Other News...
Patriots Camp Battle Is Already Putting One Roster Hope In Trouble
A week into training camp, the Patriots already have a clearer picture of the offensive line competition, and it has not been especially kind to Caedan Wallace. While Will Campbell, Caleb Lomu and Dametrious Crownover have drawn notice for their work up front, Wallace has slipped behind in the battle for a backup spot, a notable development for a player entering his third season.
Recent practices have seen Wallace working with the third-team group, a sign that his path to a roster spot is getting narrower by the day. With competition fierce and the Patriots still sorting out how many linemen they can realistically keep, his future now looks tied to whether the team decides to carry extra depth on the offensive line. [Read more 🡒]
AJ Browns First Patriots Camp Setback Raises A Big Concern
A.J. Browns first Patriots training camp has already hit an early snag. During a drill, the newly acquired receiver had his thumb injured enough to draw medical attention on the field, a jarring moment for a player New England brought in to help reshape its passing game after the trade from Philadelphia.
Brown still managed to keep a positive tone afterward, even as the session carried on around him without interruption. The immediate concern now is how serious the issue proves to be and what it could mean for a player the Patriots were counting on to be a centerpiece of camp from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Camp Just Raised Bigger Roster Questions Than Expected
Heavy rain pushed the Patriots eighth training camp practice indoors, but it still gave reporters a useful look at a session that felt more revealing than the weather would have suggested. The red zone work brought plenty of competition, with veterans such as Reggie Gilliam, Alijah Vera-Tucker and Morgan Moses back on the field, while the drill circuit also featured some loud, unusual distractions in the form of siren noises during third-and-short reps.
The day had a few roster-spot ripple effects, too, with Terrell Jennings back for his first practice of the summer after opening camp on the non-football injury list. There were also signs that the back end of the roster is still moving, and one quiet jersey swap suggested another change could be on the way as camp continues to sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]