The New England Patriots are back at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, and training camp arrives with plenty for fans to watch beyond the usual summer grind.
Veterans reported Friday, with some rookies already in the building earlier in the week, and the defending AFC champions are now moving into their preseason practice sessions. Mike Vrabel’s team, led by MVP runner-up Drake Maye, is trying to make another run at the Super Bowl after last year’s loss to Seattle.
For fans, the setup is familiar and welcoming: practices are free, open to the public, and held on the grass fields behind Gillette Stadium. The Patriots’ new practice facility sits nearby, featuring a weight room, high-tech meeting rooms and more.
Gates are expected to open around 9:15 a.m. each day, with practice starting about an hour later. Parking is free, with northbound traffic directed to the P6 entrance and southbound traffic to P8.
The team has already laid out its expected camp schedule, though dates and times can change. The first public session is Saturday, July 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by Sunday, July 26, from 10:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Monday, July 27, is a 10-11:30 a.m. walkthrough. Other open practices include July 28, July 30, July 31, Aug.
1, Aug. 3, Aug. 7 and two joint practices in August.
The Patriots will work with the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 11, then with the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 19 and Aug. 20.
That preseason stretch includes three games: Aug. 13 against the Colts at Gillette Stadium, Aug. 22 against the Eagles at Gillette Stadium, and Aug. 27 at the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. The Colts and Eagles games will air on WBZ-TV, while the preseason finale against Cleveland will be on Prime Video. New England then opens the regular season Sept. 9 in a Super Bowl rematch against the Seattle Seahawks.
Fans heading to camp can bring collapsible chairs and strollers, and bags are permitted, though clear bags are encouraged to help move security along. Cellphone photos are allowed, but practice video of any kind is not.
Video cameras and cameras with detachable lenses are banned, along with coolers, drones, selfie sticks, tripods, weapons of any kind and flags longer than 2 feet. The team says a full prohibited-items list is available on its website.
There’s more to do than just watch practice. The Fan Zone will have football skill activities, along with a new touchless photo experience. Pat Patriot, Patriots cheerleaders and former players are also scheduled to make appearances throughout the summer, and those activities remain open for an hour after practice ends.
Former Patriots players will sign autographs on some days from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the fan walkway behind the field. James White is scheduled for July 25, Christian Fauria for July 26, and no alumni are currently listed for July 27 or 28.
As camp begins, one of the biggest things drawing attention is the developing connection between Drake Maye and newly acquired wide receiver A.J. Brown.
On WBZ-TV’s Sports Final, ESPN’s Mike Reiss said, "We watched him at the end of spring practices, and they seemed to have a little something going on there," Reiss said. "They got together with some of the other pass catchers in North Carolina leading into them reporting for training camp.
I think Drake realizes he's got something sort of potentially special here if they can put the work in and get it going."
Reiss also pointed to a crowded receiver room, with Brown, free agent addition Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, DeMario "Pop" Douglas and Efton Chism all in the mix. He said he’ll also be watching the trade rumors around Boutte.
Another major storyline is Christian Gonzalez’s contract situation. The star cornerback is eligible for an extension but has not reached a deal yet. He attended mandatory offseason practices after skipping voluntary sessions, and Reiss said he’ll be watching to see whether Gonzalez holds out, shows up or if the contract issue affects his attendance.
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One possible fix would be a bold trade, with the kind of move that would instantly change the conversation around the front seven. If that kind of deal never materializes, the Patriots could still turn to the veteran market and look for a name like Jadeveon Clowney, but either path points to the same reality: this is a team that knows it has to add more juice off the edge and may not be done shopping yet. [Read more 🡒]