FOXBORO - The Patriots added a little more bite to training camp on Tuesday, putting on shells for the first time this summer and nudging the tempo up after a walkthrough and two lighter practices.
It still wasn’t full-on contact, but the line work got more competitive and the team periods had a noticeably sharper edge. The first real thump of camp is still waiting in the wings, but day four brought the kind of step forward that changes the feel of practice.
The quarterback group stayed clean, too. Drake Maye opened with a rough patch in 11-on-11s, sailing back-to-back throws to A.J.
Brown, then settled in and finished with five straight completions. He went 4-for-7 in 7-on-7 work and 10-for-14 in 11s.
Tommy DeVito had his best-looking day yet, hitting all four of his throws in 7s and finishing 8-for-11 in 11s. Third-string rookie Behren Morton also saw more work than he had earlier in camp and went 3-for-3 in 7s and 2-for-3 in 11s. All three quarterbacks protected the ball and looked comfortable operating from the pocket.
And once again, Kayshon Boutte made the loudest noise of the day.
Boutte has been on a roll all weekend, and Tuesday was more of the same. He worked himself into the starting lineup, kept drawing targets from Maye and capped another strong showing with a 45ish-yard touchdown over safety Kevin Byard. Boutte finished with a team-high four catches and keeps climbing in a crowded receiver room.
He wasn’t the only pass-catcher making plays. Eight different wide receivers caught balls, including Efton Chism III, Romeo Doubs, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, AJ Brown and undrafted rookie Cameron Dorner. Dorner, the North Texas rookie, started camp slowly but came away with two solid grabs working with the third team and should have more chances once the pads come on.
Hunter Henry was another favorite target for Maye, especially in 11-on-11s. Twice he reached up over defenders to haul in passes that looked nearly impossible from the media tent, and he came down with both.
Rookie Eli Raridon also got more run with the top unit and caught three passes. Tanner Arkin, who has taken snaps as the top fullback at times, recorded his first catch of the summer, and Jeremiah Franklin added a reception in the flat with the third group.
The Patriots did take a hit at cornerback. Carlton Davis, one of the starters in 7-on-7 work, left practice early after running with A.J.
Brown on a crosser. Kindle Vildor stepped in for him in 7s, then Charles Woods took over in 11s before briefly leaving and later returning.
Rhamondre Stevenson also walked off early, despite being scheduled for media availability after practice.
On special teams, rookie kicker Andy Borregales followed up his 6-for-6 day on Sunday with another strong outing. He made five of six field goals from 33 to 50 yards, with the lone miss coming from around 44 yards. A low snap from Julian Ashby appeared to be the issue, and the kick drifted wide left.
There were also a few familiar faces helping out around the field. Offensive line coach Doug Marrone, who had knee surgery in the offseason, was back with the group and wearing a sleeve on his left leg. Former Patriots cornerback Joejuan Williams was working with the defensive backs as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship, and Patriots Hall of Fame offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia was in attendance as well.
Patriots vice president of football operations and strategy John Streicher also lent a hand, throwing passes to the safeties during coverage drills.
Christian Gonzalez addressed his contract situation after Robert Kraft spoke about it over the weekend, saying, "I mean, everybody knows what Mr. Kraft has done.
A ton of respect for Mr. Kraft and what he’s done for this franchise.
It's just something we don't want to handle in the media. I keep that with the team and my team, and go on about that."
The Patriots are off Wednesday before returning Thursday morning. Rain is in the forecast, and the team’s first padded practice of the summer could wind up indoors.
In Other News...
Patriots Face A Costly Defensive Line Decision They Can't Miss
The Patriots still have a defensive line question hanging over the roster, and it is the kind that can shape how aggressive they get before the market thins out. One name worth watching is Tampa Bay tackle Vita Vea, a massive interior presence who would instantly change the look of New Englands front if the price ever made sense.
There is plenty standing in the way, though. Vea is already 31, would come with a hefty contract ask and would almost certainly cost real draft capital, which matters for a Patriots team that already sent a first-round pick to Philadelphia for A.J. Brown last month. Tampa Bay has not officially put Vea on the market, so for now New England is left weighing the appeal of a rare difference-maker against the cost of making a move that might be too rich even for a team trying to fix its defense. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Belichicks UNC Gamble Just Took Another Ugly Turn
Bill Belichicks first year at North Carolina already carried plenty of scrutiny after the Tar Heels stumbled to a 4-8 finish and spent much of the season near the bottom of the offensive rankings. Now the off-field structure around the program is drawing attention too, with the university saying a human resources matter involving a key football staffer has led to administrative leave.
UNC said the move is standard procedure and does not speak to the merits of the complaint, but it adds another layer of uncertainty around a program still trying to find its footing under a coach whose arrival was supposed to change the conversation. The timing is hardly ideal, either, with the Tar Heels only weeks away from opening the 2026 season against TCU in Dublin, Ireland. [Read more 🡒]