The Patriots’ joint practice with the Eagles is set up to be one of those August sessions where the temperature rises fast and stays there. There’s always edge in these workouts, but this one carries extra juice with the recent A.J. Brown trade, plenty of talent on both sides, and a whole lot worth watching.
Brown is the name that jumps off the page first. The former Eagles star will be back across from the team that sent him packing, even though he wanted out.
And with the Drake Maye-to-Brown connection already looking deadly, the possibility is there for an even bigger leap. Philadelphia still brings an elite defense, but a motivated Brown is not somebody to shrug off.
He could own these practices, and if he decides to remind his old teammates how he feels, the trash talk should come with it. Multiple scuffles wouldn’t be a surprise, and neither would an all-out fight.
There’s also a real proving-ground feel on the line for rookie Gabe Jacas. Philadelphia’s offensive line is one of the best in football, and the Patriots should be able to hold their own inside.
The challenge comes on the edge, where New England’s issues last season were a major concern. Jacas arrives with the tools to become a stud, but he’s still a rookie, and this is exactly the kind of setting that can tell you a lot about him.
If he can win a few reps against top-tier tackles, that would be a strong sign the Patriots may have a better pass rush coming off the edge.
The Patriots’ own offensive line will be under the microscope, too. Their biggest playoff problems started up front, and this week offers a chance to see whether the group is trending in a better direction.
With a healthy Will Campbell and the addition of Alijah Vera-Tucker, there’s reason to think improvement is coming. Facing one of the league’s best defenses will show whether Campbell is back with a stronger anchor and cleaner technique, and whether he can keep Maye clean.
If that looks right, it would point to the pre-injury Campbell being back.
Vera-Tucker will be worth tracking as well, especially in how he fits into the line’s communication and protection against a defense like this. If the group handles itself well, there’s a lot more reason for optimism about Maye being protected in 2026.
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 🡒]