FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots took the field for the first time in preparation for the 2017 season, and the usual overflow crowd was pumped to see their defending Super Bowl champions.
As per the collective bargaining agreement, the players can’t be in full pads the first two days of practice. Real football starts on Saturday, but here’s the rundown on what went on today.
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Ninkovich, Ealy nowhere to be seen: Veteran Rob Ninkovich and newcomer Kony Ealy (trade from Carolina) weren’t visible on the first day of practice. Ninkovich was absent for personal reasons. Not sure about Ealy.
Garoppolo ready to go: He threw a couple interceptions in red zone work, but overall Jimmy Garoppolo was outstanding in practice. Totally at ease with everything and threading the needle to all parts of the field. The thing that kept entering my mind: This guy is ready to direct his own team, whoever that is, right now.
Playmakers making plays: Whether it was Rob Gronkowski (unfair), Brandin Cooks or (surprise) undrafted WR Austin Carr (the breakout star), playmakers were making big plays down the field. A nice start to camp in that department.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Reserve/injured list: DL Corey Vereen.
Physically unable to perform list: LB Dont’a Hightower, DT Alan Branch. Both could be seen jogging and working out on the lower practice field.
Red non-contact jerseys: Just the quarterbacks, as usual.
Not participating: None that we could spot.
Not seen on the field: LB Rob Ninkovich, DE Kony Ealy, LS Joe Cardona.
New injuries: WR Devin Lucien had his knee looked at near the end of practice, and then was limping and watching the two-minute drills.
DRESS CODE
Shells.
TOP PLAYS
- Garoppolo threw a dime with great anticipation to the back pylon to Chris Hogan, who was running along the back line. The ball was threaded between two defensive backs.
- WR Cody Hollister had a terrific twisting catch in the back corner of the end zone on a back-shoulder pass from Garoppolo. It appeared that Hollister also executed a toe tap for the score.
- LB Kyle Van Noy had great coverage up the seam to breakup a pass from Tom Brady to Gronkowski.
- Brady pumping and then hitting the go route to Brandin Cooks, who had gotten behind everyone — exactly why they traded for him.
- Carr hauled in a back-shoulder pass from Garoppolo against DB Will Likely that “won” the offense a goal line session. Video:
- TE Rob Gronkowski: Looked to be in top form again. Wouldn’t say he’s 100 percent, but he’s pretty close and was his dominating self out there. He was also having a blast, as he celebrated a few plays with his trademark enthusiasm. He even danced behind Bill Belichick at one point. Of course, Belichick didn’t notice.
- WR Austin Carr: The undrafted rookie from Northwestern had a handful of standout plays. Showed good quickness and smarts. One to watch going forward.
- CB Malcolm Butler: Didn’t have any huge plays but his coverage was outstanding all over the field.
- QB Jacoby Brissett: Had some accuracy issues and sometimes held the ball too long.
- WR Julian Edelman: Not a bad day, but he had some issues getting on the same page with the quarterbacks, specifically Garoppolo. Edelman is usually the guy that dominates the first day and he had a few drops.
- S Patrick Chung: Just happened to be on the receiving end of a lot of Gronkowski’s plays, which will happen to anybody.
- Without Ninkovich and Ealy, Geneo Grissom got a lot of action.
- The Patriots look rough at linebacker without Hightower on the field. Jonathan Freeny, who looked slow in coverage, and Shea McClellin received a lot of playing time.
- Stephon Gilmore opened at RCB, Malcolm Butler at LCB and Jonathan Jones was the third cornerback.
- Rex Burkhead got a long look as the two-minute drill. Probably nothing than just getting him up to speed. James White and Dion Lewis know what’s going on.
- We saw the team work on blocked kicks with a gymnastics mat brought into the mix on field goals.
- Brady and Cooks had a tough time getting on the same page early, but once they clicked on the longball, they were good.
- All the running backs had good days, which happens with no pads. One thing is for sure: you better be able to catch the ball in his backfield. All of them, including newcomers Mike Gillislee and Burkhead, were at ease catching the ball.
- CB Cyrus Jones had an early bobble fielding punts, and then struggled in coverage.
- Thought some of the young defensive backs were competitive, specifically Kenny Moore, David Jones and Dwayne Thomas.
- WR Devin Lucien was in the mix a lot before he started limping with a knee injury.
- Red Sox third-base coach Brian Butterfield was a guest, and spent the morning watching from the sidelines.
- Drops: Edelman 2, Matt Lengel, Carr.