New England Patriots training camp is about to give fans their first real summer look at a team that arrives with plenty to sort through and plenty to watch.
The Patriots are once again opening 13 practices to the public, all held next to their brand new practice facility by Gillette Stadium. This is the first summer slate that begins on a Saturday, and with the buzz back around the team after a successful 2025 season that ended with a run all the way to Super Bowl LX, there should be no shortage of energy around the field.
There will also be practices that are closed to fans but open to the media, giving reporters a closer view of how the roster takes shape before the games begin.
The preseason schedule brings three games, with two of them at home. Those home dates against the Colts and Eagles will also come with joint practices, which are usually the biggest draw of camp. Even if most of the usual starters don’t see much action in the games themselves, the matchups will give younger players and newcomers a chance to show what they can do in live reps and push for a spot on the 53-man roster.
The Patriots open preseason play on Aug. 13 against the Indianapolis Colts. It is the first time the teams have met in the summer since 1992.
Indianapolis entered the offseason with Super Bowl hopes, but an injury to Daniel Jones knocked those plans off course. For New England, it’s a chance to get back into game mode.
The next home game comes on Aug. 22 against the Philadelphia Eagles, a matchup that has already been circled for a while. The Patriots traded for A.J.
Brown back in June, and the Eagles arrive in New England just two years removed from a title run. The joint practices should be a major attraction, especially after they were among the best-attended days of last summer.
The preseason wraps up on Aug. 27 in Cleveland against the Browns. It will be the first time these teams have met in August since 1993, and that game was played in Toronto. By then, the final roster battles will be in full swing, and players near the bottom of the depth chart will be trying to make their case before camp closes.
There are still a few major storylines hanging over the summer, starting with contract situations. Christian Gonzalez is seeking a new deal that would put him among the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league, while second round edge rusher Gabe Jacas still has not signed his rookie contract after an offseason knee procedure. The expectation is that neither player will be on the field for practice until there is movement on the financial side.
The backup jobs are where a lot of the real competition will live. The third running back spot has Terrell Jennings, Lan Larison, Jam Miller, and Myles Montgomery in the mix.
At fourth cornerback, Kindle Vildor, Karon Prunty, and Charles Woods are battling. The kick returner competition includes Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III.
A.J. Brown is another key name to track.
The Patriots paid two draft picks, including a first-rounder in 2028, to bring him in and give Drake Maye a true WR1. In the spring practices open to the media, Brown looked every bit the part, showing off his jump-ball ability and an early connection with Maye.
The real test comes now that the pads are on and the offense gets more physical.
Up front, the offensive tackle picture is also worth watching closely. The Patriots used a first-round pick on Will Campbell last season, then traded up this year to take Utah tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th overall selection. Lomu could wind up as the team’s starting right tackle, and his arrival adds more pressure to a position that already includes Campbell, who is coming off a shaky finish to his rookie year.
The summer is set. The questions are lined up. Now the Patriots finally get to start answering them.
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