FOXBORO - Elijah Ponder is walking into Year 2 with a very different kind of workload in front of him, and the Patriots are clearly asking more of him.
The second-year edge rusher, who arrived in New England as an undrafted free agent out of Cal Poly, spent much of his rookie season bouncing between a rotational defensive role and special teams work. Now, with a bigger opening in front of him, he’s getting the kind of reps that can change a young player’s trajectory.
That was on display in the Patriots’ first training camp practice of the summer, when Ponder worked with the first-team defense alongside Dre’Mont Jones and Bradyn Swinson. The opportunity came after veteran Harold Landry was placed on the PUP list because of a knee issue, while second-round rookie Gabe Jacas had only recently signed his contract.
For Ponder, it was the kind of moment he’s been waiting for.
"It means a lot. I mean, that's what we're working for," Ponder said after practice. "So, I'm just excited for the opportunity and ready to do my job."
The Patriots are still light on proven edge help, which makes Ponder’s summer even more important. He made the 53-man roster as a rookie last season, and while nothing in the NFL is ever locked in, he looks like a strong bet to be part of the mix again. The difference now is that his snaps should come far more often, especially while the rest of the room is getting up to speed.
Ponder said the jump from rookie camp to Year 2 already feels real.
"There's a lot," he explained. "Just got to learn the playbook, technique, all that.
Just learning the way of the NFL. But now I'm just trying to focus on getting better and ready to make an impact on the field."
Asked where he wants to improve, Ponder kept it broad.
"I'm just gonna say all around," Ponder said. "I'm looking to get better an any type of way."
That mindset fits the way he finished last season. Ponder put together a solid rookie campaign, finishing with four sacks and 24 total tackles while playing 215 snaps. That workload is going to climb in a hurry if he keeps earning trust this summer.
New England also needs him. The team moved on from K’Lavon Chaisson and Anfernee Jennings in the offseason as part of its retooling, and Ponder’s upside gives the defense a needed jolt off the edge, particularly on early downs. He said the confidence he built as a rookie has carried over into this camp.
"There was a lot more confidence going in, you know, getting more plays under my belt," Ponder said. "Just understanding what it takes to play in this league. ... I had a lot more confidence."
Still, Ponder made it clear he isn’t measuring success by sacks or tackles for loss. The bigger picture matters more.
"I have high expectations for myself. I'm just hoping to make plays, just be an impact for this team on the field," he said.
"However I can affect the game for the team that leads to us winning, I'm happy. So that's what's going to be my goal."
In Other News...
Patriots Camp Got More Physical And Two Key Health Concerns Emerged
The Patriots fourth training camp practice brought a noticeable step up in intensity, with the team in shells for the first time this summer and the drills looking a little closer to real football. There were still several players out because of injury designations, but the on-field work offered a clearer look at the competition and the rhythm of the offense, with Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton all getting their chances while Kayshon Boutte paced the receivers and Andy Borregales stayed busy on field goals.
The bigger concern came from the health front, where two key players did not finish the session after the physicality picked up. Any early exit in camp gets attention, especially when the Patriots are trying to build continuity on both sides of the ball, and the sight of Carlton Davis and Rhamondre Stevenson leaving practice before it was over added a different kind of urgency to an otherwise productive day. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]