The Patriots’ joint work with the Eagles gave Mike Vrabel and his staff a clear look at how New England holds up against a Super Bowl-caliber opponent, and a few names popped right away. On a day when the Eagles brought the heat, Craig Woodson and Drake Maye were among the Patriots who answered it, while Jalen Hurts and Alijah Vera-Tucker had rougher afternoons.
Woodson made the loudest defensive play of the session. The safety intercepted Hurts twice in 11-on-11 work, a strong follow-up to a rookie season in which he didn’t record a pick at all. That kind of ball production only strengthens his case for one of the starting safety jobs, and if he keeps trending this way, pairing him with Kevin Byard could turn into one of the league’s better tandems.
Hurts, by contrast, had a day he’ll want to move past quickly. His two Woodson interceptions were part of a three-pick practice, which is not the kind of stat line you expect from a quarterback known for protecting the ball. The source of the issue appears to be timing with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, and while Hurts will almost certainly be better when the games count, New England did not see a quarterback it needs to fear in the same way it would a true NFC heavyweight.
Maye, meanwhile, looked far more settled than he has at points earlier in camp. The Patriots quarterback went 15-for-18 in 11-on-11 drills and completed passes to nine different receivers.
He connected with Brown several times, including one play that was dropped and another that would have gone for a big gain. It was the kind of clean, efficient day that helps quiet any broader nerves about where things stand heading toward 2026.
The trenches were where Philadelphia made its strongest push. Will Campbell and Caleb Lomu both had some losses in one-on-ones, and Andrew Callahan noted Vera-Tucker for some “rough losses.” Moro Ojomo was reportedly giving Vera-Tucker a tough time, and the concerns are impossible to ignore given Vera-Tucker’s injury history, with major injuries in three of the last four seasons.
There was a bright spot up front for New England, though. Vera-Tucker’s arrival allowed Jared Wilson to move back to the center position he played in college, and the switch paid off.
Wilson won both of his one-on-one pass-rush reps, including one against Jordan Davis, despite giving up roughly 50 pounds. After an uneven run at guard last season, Wilson looked more comfortable at center and could bring some much-needed stability to a group with real questions.
In Other News...
Tyquan Thorntons Chiefs Comeback Push Just Hit A Brutal Twist
Tyquan Thorntons effort to carve out a larger role with the Chiefs took an unsettling turn in practice when the wide receiver was forced to leave with an injury. Thornton, who was waived by the Patriots before landing in Kansas City, had been working to prove he could become a meaningful part of the offense after his arrival with the Chiefs.
The immediate concern is the uncertainty around the injury, especially because Thornton was taken off the field in a cart. Until there is more clarity on how serious it is, the Chiefs are left to wonder whether one of their most intriguing depth pieces will be available to keep building momentum in a crowded receiver room. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots May Have No Choice With Caleb Lomu After O-Line Trouble
New Englands offensive line picture got a lot shakier after the Patriots lost Andrew Rupcich to a season-ending lower-body injury and still have Ben Brown sidelined for now. The interior group was already a spot to watch, and now the depth chart has been thinned enough that the team had to bring in Joe Michalski and Darrian Dalcourt just to help patch things together.
Mike Vrabel is not pretending the options are limitless, either. With the line in flux, the Patriots may have to consider a more dramatic answer for first-round pick Caleb Lomu, whose path had been at tackle but could now include a move inside if that is what the roster demands. For a team trying to protect its quarterback and stabilize a unit already under strain, it is the kind of adjustment that could end up mattering a lot more than planned. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Suddenly Need Greg Van Roten More Than Fans Realize
The Patriots brought in Greg Van Roten to steady an interior offensive line that took a hit when injuries started thinning out the backups. A veteran with plenty of NFL mileage, Van Roten wasted little time getting onto the practice field for the first time since joining New England, and the move gives the team another experienced body at a spot where depth can disappear quickly.
Mike Vrabel has already signaled confidence in what Van Roten can provide, pointing to his versatility and overall experience as reasons the fit makes sense. For a Patriots group trying to keep the middle of the line from becoming a problem, the bigger question now is how quickly Van Roten can settle in and how large a role he ends up filling once the games matter. [Read more 🡒]