FOXBORO — The best way to finish strong is to start slow.
Drake Maye did both Tuesday over another boiling padded practice and the Patriots’ sixth overall in training camp. Maye completed fewer than half his passes in 7-on-7s, then missed badly on multiple perimeter passes in full-team drills and had a botched snap. But after opening the last 11-on-11 period with an incompletion, he completed his last four straight throws, including two touchdowns.
Overall, Stefon Diggs nabbed two touchdowns in team drills, while Kayshon Boutte and third-round rookie Kyle Williams pocketed the others. The Pats’ much-maligned offensive line also generated better push in the run game on a day that was best described as a draw between the starting offense and defense. Both units rotated heavily at several positions to counteract temperatures that climbed into the mid-90s by the end of practice.
Elsewhere, Christian Gonzalez appears to have avoided serious injury, two offensive linemen didn’t finish practice, a rookie O-lineman received a promotion, one young cornerback is on the rise and pass rush drills heated up.
Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations, with coverage stats courtesy of Patriots reporter Doug Kyed:
Absent: CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Carlton Davis, LB Jahlani Tavai, DL Joshua Farmer, FB Brock Lampe
Returned: TE Austin Hooper
Limited: OT Morgan Moses, C Garrett Bradbury, DL Christian Barmore
PUP: OT Vederian Lowe, WR Mack Hollins
Notes: Gonzalez missed his first practice of the spring after limping off with an apparent left leg injury during Monday's practice. He arrived late, wearing street clothes and a sleeve around his left leg. Gonzalez did not walk with a noticeable limp.
Moses walked off the field under his own power after taking one rep in 1-on-1 pass rush. It's unclear why the 34-year-old missed the rest of practice. Bradbury did not finish the last team period or run field sprints at the end, instead watching the last minutes of practices unfold while holding his helmet on the sideline.
Davis was also present, but did not participate, giving him four missed practices to one so far in training camp. He also participated in a walkthrough last week. Hooper's return gave the tight ends room a much needed boost. He's been activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list. Tavai missed his second straight practice. Farmer and Lampe were absent for the first time.
Javon Baker's red-zone TD: If highlight plays could clinch roster spots, Baker would already be on the team. Here's why.
Working toward the back left pylon, he ran a fade route against young corner and fellow 2024 draft pick Marcellas Dial Jr. in the final team period of the practice. Backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs lobbed the ball in their direction almost immediately after taking the snap. So Baker threw on the brakes, leapt and plucked the ball off Dial's helmet for a spectacular catch and perhaps even more impressive body control. He punctuated the play by tapping two feet inbounds and celebrating in front of the crowd.
OL Jared Wilson: Just one week into camp, the kid earned himself a promotion.
Wilson took the first snaps in team periods at left guard, ahead of Cole Strange, whom he had been rotating with through the first five practices. Wilson also went 3-0 during 1-on-1 pass rush drills, scoring wins against stud defensive tackles Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. Even though he played center in college, it appears, for now, Wilson may be more likely to play left guard as a rookie.
Note: The passing stats below were tallied during competitive 11-on-11 periods only. The stats in parentheses represent the quarterbacks' camp-long performance.
Drake Maye: 7-of-13, sack (35-of-47, 16 sacks)
Joshua Dobbs: 5-of-10, 2 sacks (20-of-30, 2 INTs, 5 sacks)
Notes: Woof.
Maye finished 3-of-8 during the Patriots' only 7-on-7 drill, then missed most of his initial attempts in full-team periods. Playing exclusively inside the red zone, he started by chucking a ball at Hunter Henry's feet in the left flat while feeling pressure, then overshooting rookie Kyle Williams on a fade route to his right. A completion to Stefon Diggs followed, and gave way to a dropped back-shoulder pass to Williams on the left sideline.
After a short break, Maye threw behind Henry on an out route, which allowed linebacker Christian Elliss to bat it away. Next, he dropped a fade throw in the bucket for Williams for his first touchdown and side-stepped interior pressure to find Diggs for his second.
Sitting at 3-of-7 entering the last full-team period, Maye pitched to Rhamondre Stevenson on a touchdown run, had a short pass to DeMario Douglas knocked out in the left flat and found Douglas again in the left flat after tossing a touchdown pass to Diggs on a long-developing play. Maye's last three snaps went: hand-off to Antonio Gibson, bubble-screen completion to Douglas and Kayshon Boutte touchdown throw ripped into the back left corner of the end zone with Alex Austin in coverage.
Dobbs also finished strong, starting 2-of-6 before he hit Javon Baker, Kendrick Bourne and backup tight end Gee Scott for touchdowns in the right red zone.
DL Khyris Tonga: A journeyman defensive tackle, Tonga is making a home for himself in New England. He started a period with the top defense, won both reps in 1-on-1 pass rush against center Garrett Bradbury and tallied a run stuff during team drills. Remember his name.
K Andres Borregales: The sixth-round rookie went 6-for-6 on field goal attempts, matching Parker Romo's performance on Monday. Both kickers hit field goals between 30 and 52 yards.
C Garrett Bradbury: Another day, another rough showing in 1-on-1 pass rush. Bradbury went winless in his two reps and was later involved in another botched snap with Maye in team periods, though it was unclear who was at fault for the fumble.
LG Cole Strange: Aside from his at least temporary demotion, Strange went 1-2 during individual pass rush drills and later allowed a pressure while pass-blocking for Maye.
Top targets in team drills: WR Javon Baker 2/6, WR Stefon Diggs 3/3, WR DeMario Douglas 3/3, WR Kyle Williams 1/3, TE Hunter Henry 0/3
Drops: RB Terrell Jennings, Williams
Top offensive line: LT Will Campbell, LG Jared Wilson, C Garrett Bradbury, RG Mike Onwenu, RT Demontrey Jacobs
1-on-1 pass rush winners: C/G Jared Wilson 3-0, OT Will Campbell 2-0, OL Mike Onwenu 2-0
1-on-1 pass rush losers: C Garrett Bradbury 0-2, LG Cole Strange 1-2
Top personnel during team periods: defensive linemen Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Keion White, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Khyris Tonga, Jaquelin Roy and Joshua Farmer; linebackers Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Harold Landry and K'Lavon Chaisson; defensive backs Alex Austin, Marcellas Dial, Miles Battle, DJ James, Marcus Jones, Kyle Duggs, Jabrill Peppers, Jaylinn Hawkins, Craig Woodson and Marcus Epps.
Interceptions: N/A
Pass breakups: S Jabrill Peppers, LB Christian Elliss, CB DJ James, CB Miles Battle
Would-be sacks: DL Keion White, OLB K'Lavon Chaisson
1-on-1 pass rush winners: DL Khyris Tonga 2-0, OLB Anfernee Jennings 2-0
1-on-1 pass rush losers: DL Christian Barmore 0-2, Jaquelin Roy 0-2