Patriots Camp Report 07.24.24: New England eases into things on the first day

FOXBOROUGH — Practice No.1 of 2024 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

Christian Barmore leaves with apparent injury: The big man, who signed a four-year, $84-million contract extension in the offseason, was seen walking off the field in the second half of practice with trainer Jim Whalen. Didn't look overly serious — Barmore walked off without aid — but his knee has been a worry since he entered the league, so this will have to be monitored

Matthew Judon and Davon Godchaux both take part fully: Two of the Patriots' top veteran defenders are both at odds with the team on their pay for 2024, but both players are playing nice with the team to start camp. They took part in individual and team periods.

"It's tough going into the last year of the deal," he said when asked for a contract update. "You kind of look at everybody around the league and in the building, and you see them getting deals done and worked out. And it's tough to not be jealous or envious or something like that. But honestly I have to be focused on myself. I'm happy for those guys. As much as everybody wants to see me stay around here for a long time, it's really not up to me. I'd pay myself a lot of money to stay around here for a long time. But it's not up to me. You've got to ask those guys that's making those decisions. And they're trying to do what's best for the team. Rightfully so and understandably. They're trying to put us in the right spot to win games, leverage everybody's contract in the right situation, make sure the salary cap is right."

Judon retweeted a trade proposal to the 49ers this week.

“Do I wanna be traded? Hell naw," he said. "I would love to stay here forever."

Patriots ease into things on the field: This practice was just shy of 90 minutes and it wasn't overly competitive, which is not a surprise. Teams use these first few practices as a part of the re-acclimation process, just getting the players' bodies going and trying to avoid early injuries. The Patriots are expected to extend practices each day by 15 minutes.

"One thing I will say is it’s a little different than when I played because of the acclimation period," Jerod Mayo said. "I do think it’s good as far as player safety is concerned, not just jumping right into pads. Hopefully, here in seven days we’ll be in full pads, so we’re excited about that opportunity as well. Today is just another chance for these guys to display their athleticism and what they learned in the classroom, so we’ll see how that goes."

TAKING ATTENDANCE

Physically unable to perform list: C Jake Andrews, WR Kendrick Bourne, LG Cole Strange, LB Sione Takitaki
Non-football injury list: RB Antonio Gibson.

He was on the rehab field working pretty vigorously, so I wouldn't think it will be very long for him.

"No concern at all. He's on the active roster still. When he's ready to go, he'll be out here," Mayo said.
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs.
Returned to practice: None.
Full participants: None.
Out: None.
Limited: WR Demario Douglas, RB Deshaun Fenwick.
New injuries: DT Christian Barmore (unknown).

DRESS CODE

Helmets.

LENGTH OF PRACTICE

1:27 with cloudy skies and occasional light rain.

QB STATS

Team (there was one team period that was a glorified jog-through)

Jacoby Brissett: 3-4
Drake Maye 0-2
Bailey Zappe 1-2

7 on 7

Jacoby Brissett: 5-6
Drake Maye 4-6
Bailey Zappe 2-3
Joe Milton 3-3

Note: I do not have the number of reps that some other writers have because I do not count when the offense is "working off cards." Those are plays when an assistant coach literally brings out a play on a card and shows it to one side of the ball. They are not running their own plays so since there are so many x-factors — including the receiver running the right route, and blockers executing correctly — so I do not count those reps.

HANDS TEAM

Fumbles: Maye/Leverett snap.
Drops: None.
Pass breakups: Jonathan Jones, Isaiah Bolden, Azizi Hearn 2.
Interception: Kyle Dugger off a Jones tip (Brissett).

TOP PLAYS

Drake Maye deep right to Jalen Reagor, who made a great one-handed catch.

Jacoby Brissett had a great seam pass to TE Austin Hooper, where the veteran had a nice nod at the top of his route and made a diving catch against LB Marte Mapu.

THREE UP

WR Jalen Reagor: All he does is keep showing up and making plays.

CB Jonathan Jones: Caused an interception and broke up another pass. Seems like he's back strong.

CB Azizi Hearn: Broke up two passes. The former Raiders UDFA spent most of last season on the practice squad.

ONE DOWN

Offensive line: There was a decent amount of pressure on the QBs - a few sacks and scrambles. But it's the first day.

QUICK HITS

• The starting offensive line was LT Chuks Okorafor, LG Sidy Sow, C David Andrews, RG Mike Onwenu, RT Calvin Anderson - but Caeden Wallace worked in a lot.
• Second team line was Vederian Lowe, Michael Jordan, Nick Leverett, Layden Robinson, Wallace.
• Third team: Tyrone Wheatley, Liam Fornadel, Atonio Mafi, Charles Turner, Zuri Henry.
• Dell Pettus was the first-team free safety. 
• Jonathan Jones started at CB2 opposite Christian Gonzalez and then they rotated among a bunch of guys with Alex Austin and Marcus Jones headlining the group.
• Jonathan Jones was at safety at one point.
• Maye had a nice rollout to this right and completion to Juju Smith-Schuster.
• All the QBs did fine, including Maye. He was sharper in the earlier team period. His final period was pretty clunky as the rain started with a quick scramble, fumbled snap, incompletion to Ja'Lynn Polk into double coverage and a throw into the turf in front of Kayshon Boutte that was either deflected or slipped out of his hand.
• Running game was hit and miss. Rhamondre Stevenson and Ja'Mychal Hasty busted a couple big runs.
• The team periods were all full-field. No situational stuff.

SCHEDULE

Thursday: 11 a.m. (helmets).
Friday: 11 a.m. (shells).
Saturday: OFF
Sunday: 11 a.m. (shells)
Monday: 11 a.m. (pads)