FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 8 is in the books. Here's what went down:
FREE PRACTICE REPORT FROM SATURDAY.
TWO THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Key veterans get lighter loads: If Bill Belichick harbored any ill will over Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski missing voluntary offseason workouts, he sure has a funny way of showing it as both -- along with Devin McCourty -- were largely given Friday's practice off. Brian Hoyer received a majority of the quarterback reps, while Danny Etling was finally given some significant snaps. Dwayne Allen took over the first TE duties, and Jordan Richards — yup, him — was inserted for McCourty and had an interception. Interesting that Dont'a Hightower did not get rest.
Two starters and a newcomer leave practice: DE Trey Flowers, who hasn't looked the same since leaving practice with a head issue on July 28, left practice midway through and did not return. He has not practiced well since, and doesn't look like his normal self. David Andrews had an issue that caused him to sit out at least some of the post-practice hill runs (I'm sure he wasn't all that disappointed), and newly signed center/guard Brian Schwenke could see an early end to his Patriots career as he left in a cart.
It was somebody's birthday: I forget. I'm terrible with names. One of the quarterbacks, maybe?
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Physically unable to perform list: S Nate Ebner (knee), CB Cyrus Jones (knee), CB Jonathan Jones (Achilles), WR Malcolm Mitchell (knee).
- Two catches from Patterson: one over Ryan Lewis, the other a one-handed TD to end practice.
- Duke Dawson with a great PBU on a deep pass play from Hogan to Braxton Berrios.
- When Schwenke went down, Wynn got his first reps at guard of camp.
- Clayborn had a sack on the play where Richards intercepted Hoyer, and then followed with another when he beat James White's blitz pickup.
- Van Noy held the edge nicely on a reverse.
- Belichick was squirting water on the ball at one point. A few plays later, Etling ran a lap for mishandling the football.
- Keionta Davis, who has not been good in 1-on-1s, continues to get looks as a sub interior rusher. Impressive physique though.
- Danny Shelton had a sack of Etling, and Derek Rivers followed with one of Hoyer.
- Duron Harmon beat up Chris Hogan in a blocking drill.
- Touchdowns for TE Ryan Izzo, Mike Gillislee in goal line, and Patterson.
- Vincent Valentine flustered Etling on a rush.
- Waddle had a false start and ran a lap. Marquis Flowers also ran multiple laps.
- Patterson continues to show a willingness to be physical in blocking drills. I mean, he's not John Hannah, but he certainly doesn't shy away from contact when he's asked to work as a blocker.