FOXBOROUGH — Practice No. 13 is in the books, let's run down all you need to know from a short, jog-through practice:
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Patriots slow it down: As is customary the first practice following a game, the Patriots were in shells and shorts, and conductive a non-competitive practice. Time for corrections and a little fine-tuning. Patriots did some situational drills: down and distance, red zone, two-minute.
Malik Cunningham not a QB ... yet: Fresh off his staring role against the Texans, Malik Cunningham was still in a white WR jersey and hasn't been moved full-time to QB. He did take the first snap of team at QB before the rain came, and made an appearance in the red zone. But that was about it.
Offensive line has some changes: Some pretty significant changes on the offensive line, if you ask me. It was nice to see Cole Strange around, but he didn't participate in practice. Trent Brown, however, was a full participant. However, he has yet to take part in a padded practice. We'll see if that changes in Green Bay.
The most interesting tweaks came in other spots, and there could be some trickle-down effects.
Riley Reiff spent the entire practice at guard. He had only been a tackle before today. It could mean a couple of things. A) They might just want to take a look at him there considering they paid him and he's not going anywhere - he has to have a spot. B) It could mean Mike Onwenu isn't real close to returning and they want to look at some veteran options (from what I understand, this is not the case). C) It could mean that they've seen enough of the RT struggles and they plan on moving Onwenu there upon his return (again, doubtful for now).
Atonio Mafi was the other guard, and I take that as the youngster will get the chance to be Strange's main backup.
Sidy Sow and Conor McDermott appear to now be in a competition for RT. I thought Sow was OK the other night. I think that is more about how Reiff isn't a real OT option and McDermott is a backup at best. See if Sow can do something with the opportunity.
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Physically unable to perform list: OG Mike Onwenu, ST Cody Davis
Non-football injury list: OT Calvin Anderson.
Red non-contact jerseys: S Marte Mapu.
Returned to practice: None.
Full participants: OT Trent Brown.
Out: RB Ty Montgomery. CB Jon Jones, OG Bill Murray, DE Ronnie Perkins, RB Pierre Strong, G/C Kody Russey.
Limited: LG Cole Strange (left knee),
New injuries: None.
DRESS CODE
Shells, helmts.
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
1:30 under cloudy skies.
QB STATS
No competitive reps.
SHANK IT OFF
Nick Folk got the FGs today.
TOP PLAYS
- None.
QUICK HITS
- As soon as practice was finished, Mac Jones wheeled around and threw a perfect ball off the crossbar from a distance. Then he pointed to the back of his uniform.
- Jones was sizzling in the red zone with TDs (at light pace) to DeVante Parker (nice leaping grab), Kendrick Bourne and Hunter Henry.
- Bailey Zappe struggled.
- Jones struggled in 2-minute and was picked off by Christian Gonzalez on an underthrown ball to Juju Smith-Schuster.
- Demario Douglas is getting a lot of good reps.
- New lineman, Micach Vanterpool, lined up at guard.
- New RB CJ Marable looks a bit like JJ Taylor on the field. Squat build. A little quickness.
SCHEDULE
Monday: 12:30 p.m. (closed to public)
Tuesday: Travel to Green Bay
Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. CT, joint practice with Packers
Thursday: 10:30 a.m. CT, joint practice with Packers
Friday: OFF
Saturday: Patriots at Packers, 8 p.m.
