The New England Patriots are about to turn up the intensity when they hit the practice field on Thursday. Their fifth session of the summer is set to be the first in full pads, and as such marks a pivotal point in the progression toward the 2026 NFL season: for the first time since the Super Bowl, the team is allowed to ad some physicality to the mix.
Before we enter this stage of the process, though, let’s take one final look back at the ramp-up period. We already discussed how it impacted the position battles on the roster, now let’s follow that up with some general musings on the Patriots about to enter training camp practice No. 5.
New connections need time
The Patriots made some major investments in their receiving group this offseason, signing Romeo Doubs to a four-year, $68 million free agency deal and later trading first- and fifth-round picks to Philadelphia for A.J. Brown. So far this summer, however, the connection between them and starting quarterback Drake Maye can best be described as developmental.
That is neither surprising nor a concern. While both of them have spent parts of the offseason building their chemistry with Maye, they are still newcomers in what is a famously complex system under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Adapting to that and getting on the same page as the person throwing the ball is a process that takes time.
Four practices are not enough time, nor should they be: the goal is to be functional come the regular season, and keep getting better from there.
Kayshon Boutte is making a case to be kept
While Brown and Doubs have been fairly quiet so far, Kayshon Boutte has performed at a standout level. The fourth-year receiver has made big catches in all three competitive practices, and has also been involved with the starting offense fairly regularly; the Patriots are trying to get him and fellow X-receiver A.J. Brown on the field together in select packages.
Given that the 24-year-old has been the subject of trade speculation throughout the offseason, he has made a good case so far this training camp to be kept on the roster. Obviously, though, the development of the other wideouts on the roster — particularly Brown and Doubs — could ultimately decide his fate more than his own performances.
The O-line is showing promise
Obviously, the performance of the offensive line needs to be taken with a grain of salt; pads have yet to come on, meaning that run blocking in particular has been watered down so far. Still, the earl stages of camp have shown an offensive line that looks ready to make a step up.
Will Campbell looks good at left tackle, seemingly playing with more confidence and aggression. Alijah Vera-Tucker is one of the positive stories of camp so far simply because he looks fully healthy and like the former first-round draft pick he is. Jared Wilson has not had any major hiccups outside of a bad snap in the first practice that Drake Maye ultimately took the blame for. Mike Onwenu and Morgan Moses continue to be steady presences on the right side, with the latter being used in an on-again/off-again manner to help preserve him.
This, in turn, allowed Caleb Lomu to see extended action with the starters. Lomu himself appears to be on the Nate Solder 2011 trajectory: he could jump in as a spot starter and swing tackle, but might see most of his regular action as a quasi blocking tight end — a role that also might ultimately impact how the roster at that particular position is constructed.
The edge is in wait-and-see mode
Harold Landry remain on the physically unable to perform list while second-round draft selection Gabe Jacas joined him on the sidelines after he finally signed his rookie deal; the 55th overall pick in this year’s draft was moved to the non-football injury list immediately after putting pen to paper. With those two out, the defensive edge remains one of the big question marks on the team.
So far in practice, Dre’Mont Jones filled the expected starting spot on one side. The other has been filled primarily by sophomore Elijah Ponder, who appears to be in the process of making a significant Year 2 jump. Time will tell how involved he will be once Landry and Jacas join the mix.
Christian Gonzalez is the man
He could have held out. He could have held in. He didn’t do any of that and has been a full practice participant and therefore model citizen since the start of camp.
Despite looking for a new contract that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, Christian Gonzalez has been his usual self through four practices. This means that the volume of reps is not the only thing noteworthy about him: he also has looked like he is in midseason form already, very much from the first snap when Drake Maye targeted A.J. Brown in 1-on-1 coverage but Gonzalez was all over the wideout to help force an incompletion.
Gonzalez is the man in the Patriots’ secondary, and he will be paid accordingly soon. His camp so far clearly indicates that.
