The New England Patriots are in the middle of a challenging training camp stretch, with Tuesday’s session the second in a string of five straight. The expectation is that the team will once again be in full pads, which suggests that the level of competition and physicality will remain high.
With that said, here is what you need to know about camp practice No. 9.
Advertisement
Schedule
After Monday’s session was moved indoors due to inclement weather, practice will be taking place on the fields behind Gillette Stadium on Tuesday. This, in turn, means that fans will be able to attend the session again.
-
9:30 a.m. ET: Mike Vrabel press conference
As always, of course, the schedule is tentative and subject to change. For more information, please visit our Pats Pulpit Training Camp Guide.
Story of the day
How is A.J. Brown looking one day after dislocating his thumb? The Patriots’ star offseason addition admitted after Monday’s session that he hurt his thumb, but that it was popped back in. He finished practice with four catches, including three during 11-on-11s, and no visible limitations. However, it remains to be seen whether or not his status changes heading into another fully-padded practice.
Advertisement
Injuries to monitor
NFI: S Brenden Schooler
PUP: TE C.J. Dippre, ED Harold Landry III
Practice absentees: OL Caedan Wallace, DT David Blay Jr, CB Carlton Davis III
New injuries: WR A.J. Brown
Monday’s practice saw running back Terrell Jennings return from the non-football injury list, adding a new dimension to the competition for the third running back spot. In the meantime, Carlton Davis has now missed a week’s worth of practices, with Caedan Wallace also out after getting banged up on Saturday. David Blay Jr’s absence could be related to the signing of fellow defensive tackle Casey Rogers, who took his jersey number in what might be an ominous sign for the undrafted rookie.
Advertisement
Players to watch
OL James Hudson III: A reserve offensive tackle entering camp, Hudson saw some action at guard on Monday. For the offseason signing, who has had his issues throughout the summer, adding a second position might be the difference between a spot on the roster or practice squad and being cut for good.
ED Gabe Jacas: The Patriots’ second-round draft pick managed to up his participation level on Monday, but he remains limited. Will Tuesday see him further add to his workload? And if so, will he begin challenging Elijah Ponder for starter reps on the edge?
LB Chad Muma: The linebacker depth chart behind Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss remains unsettled, but Muma looks like the current frontrunner for the third spot. He spent some time with the starters on Monday and looked good particularly as a run defender. Him playing a similar role again on Tuesday might be a sign that he has taken the lead in the LB3 competition.
Advertisement
The backup cornerbacks: Speaking of competitions, the one for the fifth and possible sixth cornerback spots is heating up. On Monday, rookies Channing Canada and Karon Prunty were among the standout performers, while Marcella Dial Jr. also remains part of the mix. Kindle Vildor and Kobee Minor, meanwhile, have seemingly slipped over the last few sessions.
Pats Pulpit will have you covered throughout the day, so please make sure to regularly check back toĀ patspulpit.comĀ for all the latest news from camp. Credentialed Patriots beat writers Brian Hines (@iambrianhines), Andrew Guindon (@NestPgs) and Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) will bring you live updates from camp on their Twitter/X feeds, so please make sure to give them a follow.
Read the full article here