FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 14 — the final open session of camp — is in the books. Here's what went down:
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Dorsett went down but returned and should not miss time: WR Phillip Dorsett went down on a play late in practice and had to be tended to as Chris Hogan checked on him. After being down for some time, Dorsett was helped off the field. He later returned gingerly to the sidelines and caught some passes off to the side for the remainder of practice. "You never like to see it and I think everyone wanted to go over and see how he was doing because he’s been doing so well in the spring and in training camp," said Tom Brady. "Hopefully, he’s okay and I certainly hope he is. He’s got a great opportunity ahead of him. I hope he takes advantage of it." A league source said it was just a scare and he should be back on the field for Wednesday's walkthrough.
Passing offense closes camp how it started, sloppy and inconsistent: The Patriots' two quarterbacks were a combined 20 of 32 (62.5 percent) in truly competitive 11-on-11 situations and the conclusion of camp did nothing to calm the uneasiness of the passing offense. The most concerning part was watching Chris Hogan, who is going to be Brady's most reliable receiver to start the season, drop another pass. Drops have been just such a huge issue for the entire group. Really the only down-to-down guy you can hang your hat on right now is James White (more on that below). The past two days, both the first- and second-team units had 11-on-11 drives and Brady's unit was 0-for-2, while Brian Hoyer's scored twice. I'm not sure the first-team offense went the length of the field for a touchdown in this camp – mostly due to lack of opportunities. But it's not the greatest of signs. At one point, Dorsett and Edelman dropped back-to-back passes and you thought Brady might kill someone. But he took it in stride. He's been very patient this camp.
After two days of good work, back to the slow pace: A lot of methodical card and scout team work, which is obviously needed but it's been unusually heavy the first two-plus weeks of camp. Today's pace was back to the slower simmer that we saw before the first preseason game.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Physically unable to perform list: None.
Red non-contact jerseys: Just the QBs.
Not participating: OT Marcus Cannon (left ankle/foot), RB Sony Michel (knee), LB Harvey Langi (chest), RB Rex Burkhead.
Rehab group: DE Trey Flowers, CB Duke Dawson (leg).
Returned to practice: OL Jason King, WR Julian Edelman (leg), WR Cordarelle Patterson.
Limited: CB Cyrus Jones (knee), WR Kenny Britt (leg), RB Jeremy Hill (leg), WR Matthew Slater, CB Ryan Lewis
New injuries: WR Phillip Dorsett (leg — helped off field but returned to catch on the side and the injury is deemed minor); LB Marquis Flowers (unknown; did not return), DL Trent Harris (unknown; did not return); TE Dwayne Allen (midsection; did not return).
DRESS CODE
- With Duron Harmon coming off the edge on a blitz, Hoyer delivered a nice ball in the seam to Rob Gronkowski, but it was broken up by Ja'Whaun Bentley.
- Brady deep to Dorsett over Jomal Wiltz was pretty.
- Nice sliding catch by Edelman across the middle.
- Allen finished the open portion of camp by beating Bojorquez for the second-straight time.
- There was a lot of angle/pin-the-team back going on. Allen's three punts landed at the 4 (touchback), 9 (touchback), minus-3 (which Edelman returned for some reason. Bojorquez's three punts landed at the 11 (caught), 8 (caught) and 10 (caught).
- It wouldn't be a shock if the Patriots kept Bojorquez over Allen, but it would be a surprise. Bojorquez didn't make the decision easy, and his consistency never really developed during camp.
- Isaiah Wynn continued to rotate with La'Adrian Waddle at starting right tackle. Found it interesting that when Trent Brown ran a penalty lap, it was Matt Tobin and not Wynn who filled in at LT. ... Ja'Whaun Bentley again mixed in with the starters as there is a heavy rotation at LB among Bentley, Dont'a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts. No else in the mix, including Christian Sam. Jonathan Jones was the primary nickel corner.
- If the Patriots' top special teams units are any indication, I don't know how they're going to keep everyone. Guys who figure to be on the cutline — Nicholas Grigsby, Marquis Flowers, Eddie Pleasant, Jordan Richards, Geneo Grissom — are still on a lot of the top units.
- Second-team offensive line: Matt Tobin, Ted Karras, James Ferentz, Cole Croston, Isaiah Wynn. Karras, Wynn and Luke Bowanko again took center reps. The Patriots obviously aren't sure what they have there.
- Berrios, Edelman, McCarron, Chung and Cyrus Jones all spending time as returners.
- Bruins players on hand: Charlie McAvoy, Ryan Donato, Matt Grzelcyk and Chris Wagner.
- Sam popped Mike Gillislee.
- Both the first- and second-team offenses had length-of-field drives:
- Team Brady: Overthrow of Hogan; Complete to Hogan; Sneak; Edelman sliding catch; Fake-spike throw to Hogan; Brady to Hogan; Field-goal good.
- Team Hoyer: Drop by Lucien; Complete to Lucien; Complete to Hollister; Complete to Decker; Incomplete to Decker; Complete to Patterson, Incomplete to Patterson, Complete to Decker, TD.
