Patriots Camp Report 08.08.21: Injuries take a toll as Patriots increase the contact

FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 10 is in the books, let's run down all you need to know: all the stats, 3 up/down and odds and ends:

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Injuries becoming a mild concern: The Patriots already lost LB Raekwon McMillan and TE Dalton Keene for the season. Things got a little more concerning Sunday when four starters — WR Nelson Agholor (not in attendance), TE Hunter Henry, C David Andrews and LS Joe Cardona — either didn't report to practice or left early. James Ferentz got the first center reps after Andrews appeared to hurt his hand, with Ted Karras working his way back (knee) in his first practice back. Henry appeared to hurt a shoulder and didn't return. The Patriots have plenty of time until the season opener so this isn't huge yet, but you want top free agents like Agholor and Henry to be on the field as much as possible.

N'Keal Harry stars ... again: The WR with a standing trade request from his agent continued his resurgence with another impressive practice. He dominated one-on-ones, made a highlight-reel catch in the end zone, and was basically all over the field. “I feel like that’s what I’m gonna do," he said. "Any ball that’s in my vicinity, I feel like I have to do anything in my power to get it. So balls like that, I’m going to dive for it, and I’m going to give my all to get there. I’ll do anything to catch that ball. ... I feel good, I feel more agile, I feel faster, so it’s all coming together at this point.” Not having Agholor on the field gave Harry increased reps, which he delivered on. 

Not much passing: This seemed to be a practice where the Patriots put a focus on trying to get the players' bodies ready for all-out contact on Thursday — because this was the most physical of the padded practices to date, which much of the emphasis on the ground game. Cam Newton still got the majority of first-team reps, but the Patriots were sure to get Mac Jones some snaps with the first-team offensive line, and he had to lead the second-team offense against the first-team defense. Both QBs threw an interception behind receivers — Newton definitely did to Devin McCourty; Jones' pass likely hit the ground before Michael Jackson could get it — but were efficient overall. Neither stood out one way or the other. Call this one a draw.

TAKING ATTENDANCE

New injuries: WR Nelson Agholor (unknown), TE Hunter Henry (upper body), LS Joe Cardona, C David Andrews (hand).
Returned to practice: S Cody Davis, DT Christian Barmore, Ted Karras, Devin Asiasi, Devin Ross.

Physically unable to perform list: CB Stephon Gilmore (quad), QB Jarrett Stidham, DE Chase Winovich, LB Terez Hall, DT Byron Cowart.
Non-football injury list: LB Cameron McGrone (knee), S Joshuah Bledsoe (wrist).
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs.
Full participants: None.
Out: DT Akeem Spence (unknown), WR Nelson Agholor (unknown)
Limited: Asiasi.

DRESS CODE

Pads.

Count: Helmets (3), Shells (4), Pads (3).

LENGTH OF PRACTICE

2:30 hours under cloudy skies.

QB STATS

Cam Newton: 8 of 11, sack, INT, 2.92 seconds average snap to throw
Mac Jones: 12 of 17, drop, 2.47 seconds.

Daily Winner: None.
Scoreboard: Jones 5, Newton 3, Draw 1 (Jones 3 TKOs, Newton 1).

HANDS TEAM

Fumbles: None.
Drops: Olszewski.
Pass breakups: JC Jackson 2, Michael Jackson, Dee Virgin.
Interception: Devin McCourty (Newton), Michael Jackson we think ... could have hit turf (Jones).

TOP PLAYS

• Newton's perfect pass over the shoulder of Wilkerson some 40 yards down field. Great throw.
• Jones with a 20-yard out to TE David Wells over Kyle Van Noy, who shed his red jersey.
• Jones had a perfect deep ball left to Wilkerson but it appeared Michael Jackson deflected it away at last second. Possible drop.
• Patriots executed a couple of really nice screen passes. One from Jones to Tyler Gaffney was pretty. Great blocking too.

THREE UP

WR N'Keal Harry: It's now official — Harry is stacking success over multiple days.

WR Kristian Wilkerson: Keeps making plays all over the field, and looks very comfortable.

DT Carl Davis: Not sure if I just missed him or what, but Davon Godchaux was not always next to Lawrence Guy in this run and base-heavy practice ... it was often the journeyman who was clogging up the middle against the run. He looks very tough to move on the interior and might have a place on this team.

ONE DOWN

None.

QUICK HITS

• Kristian Wilkerson and Jalen Mills got into the first scuffle of camp and had to be separated. I think Mills, who likes to use his mouth during drills, was the odds-on favorite to be in the first kerfuffle. 
• Mac Jones had a snap where he held the ball for 6.31 seconds. That's not going to be good for anybody. If I had a criticism of him so far, it's that he needs to cut his losses earlier and know where his outlets are quicker. But we don't know how he's being coached. Josh McDaniels could be telling him to keep looking for a play. Methinks Jones is going to be in for a rude awakening when he tries to scramble against NFL speed.
• Josh Uche and Kyle Dugger would have had sacks.
• Justin Bethel had a tremendous punt save on the goal line.
• From the No Detail is Too Small for BB Department: At one point, when Deatrich Wise was snapping field goals to Gunner Olszewski, who was holding for Jake Bailey (the Patriots prepare for everything), Belichick got involved in special teams coaching. It appeared that he was telling Wise and FG RG Isaiah Wynn how to position themselves due to Wise's long legs. Wynn and Wise wound up crossing legs to not give the FG block team room to rush the kick. Didn't work: Cody Davis blocked two.
• Wynn appeared to be favoring his left foot at one point. That's not good for a guy who has battled ankle and foot issues since he's entered the league. He's having a great camp.
• Belichick threw his visor for a delay of game penalty against Newton's offense.
• McDaniels didn't seem happy with a lot in this practice.
• Carl Davis on former Ravens teammates Matt Judon and Lawrence Guy: "I was talking to Judon, and I didn't have no clue. I told him, 'You need to come up here. This would be a good place for you.' So I'm glad it worked out, and that's my guy. And LG, he's somebody that's instrumental in that locker room and a great leader and pushes us through, and he's definitely a great Patriot."
• Matthew Slater on Wilkerson: "A common theme with a lot of our guys on this team is humility, and I think K is no different. I think he carries himself with a great deal of humility. He doesn’t say very much. He’s a quiet kid. But he’s very attentive. He wants to do it. And I tell him all the time, I was like, ‘Man, you got some really great physical gifts that can allow you to excel in the kicking game.’ He’s like a sponge. He’s always asking questions. He’s always asking me to meet with him and watch film and talk through things with him. I’m pulling for him. I hope things go well. I know he’s performing well as a receiver right now as well, so there’s no reason why that young man can’t have success. He’s got to keep the same mentality. Great humility, great work ethic, and see what the good Lord does with him.” 

SCHEDULE

Monday: Practice, 2:45 p.m.
Tuesday: Practice, 2:45 p.m.
Wednesday: OFF.
Thursday: vs. Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Friday: OFF.