EAGAN, Minn. - Practice No. 16 - the second of two joint practices with the Vikings - is in the books. Let's run down all you need to know: all the stats, 3 up/down, 1-on-1s (we have video this time), and odds and ends:
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Defense has tough time against the Vikings: The Patriots' defense, which got Christian Barmore back but was without Jabrill Peppers, had a tough time with JJ McCarthy and the Vikings' first-team offense during a red zone practice - one day after the Pats snuffed them out.
It didn't start out that way because in the red zone 7 on 7 I was able to watch after pass rush 1-on-1s, while Drake Maye was dicing the Vikings (7 of 8, 2 TDs), McCarthy was just 2 of 6 with a TD.
But it was different when the offensive lines came on the field.
At one point, McCarthy threw touchdowns on three straight passes to Jordan Addison, Lucky Jackson and Thayer Thomas. It was almost four-straight passes as Aaron Jones scored a deep TD that got all the fans riled up, but in reality, Milton Williams and Harold Landry had a sack on the play.
McCarthy was perfect on his final 9 passes of team red zone, and scored a touchdown on his game situation drive (1 minute, 1 timeout near midfield) when he lofted a perfect pass down the left sideline to Addison that beat Marcus Jones.
Vikings' situational drive:
McCarthy complete to Aaron Jones
McCarthy incomplete to no one
McCarthy incomplete to TJ Hockenson as Harold Landry gets pressure
Scramble for first down
Scramble, defensive holding
McCarthy complete 13-yard touchdown to Addison against Marcus Jones
BTW, on this drive, I did not like Christian Eliss in man coverage against Hockenson, and Jones against Addison. Begging to get beat.
Jaylinn Hawkins on the message from Mike Vrabel after today. "Basically, we got to find it. We haven't arrived. We got a lot to work toward and we gotta keep on going toward that goal."
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) August 14, 2025
Drake Maye does damage - when he has time: It's too bad, at this point, that the NFL isn't a 7 on 7 game because Maye is a golden god at that (7 of 8, 2 TDs that I could watch). It's different when the line came on the field, especially with LG Jared Wilson out for injury and replaced by Ben Brown. Maye threw touchdowns to Jack Westover, Austin Hooper and Kayshon Boutte in team periods. Boutte's was a hail mary jump ball on the final play of their situational period on 4th and forever from about 40 yards.
It capped a rough stretch for the offensive line, which allowed Maye to be sacked five times.
On his final drive of red zone, Maye was sacked on the final play as the left side of the line was caved in. This is how the situational period went:
Sack by Jonathan Allen against Mike Onwenu; timeout
Maye incomplete deep right to Mack Hollins, who caught it be was ruled out
Sack by Dallas Turner against Morgan Moses
Complete to Hollins deep right out of bounds on 4th and 15; clock play
Will Campbell false start
Maye complete to Boutte over Joshuna Metellus
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Physically unable to perform list: None.
Non-football injury list: None.
Red non-contact jerseys: None.
Returned to practice: TE Hunter Henry, DT Christian Barmore
Out: CB Christian Gonzalez, LB Jahlani Tavai, WR Kendrick Bourne, WR Ja’Lynn Polk, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, DE Elijah Ponder, LB Marte Mapu, LG Jared Wilson.
Limited: CB DJ James, S Jabrill Peppers.
New injuries: None.
DRESS CODE
Full pads (seventh day)
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
Two hours
QB STATS
Team periods
Drake Maye: 9 of 13, 3 TD, 5 sacks, 4 scrambles, droop
Josh Dobbs: 13 of 16, 5 TD, 2 sacks, 2 scrambles
Ben Wooldrige: None.
JJ McCarthy: 15 of 19, 4 TD, 2 sacks, 2 scrambles
OTHER STATS IN TEAM
Drop: Demario Douglas.
ONE-ON-ONES
Each offensive lineman went back-to-back reps against the same opponent. 1s vs. 1s, etc.
Morgan Moses vs. Dallas Turner 1-1
Mike Onwenu vs. Jonathan Allen 2-0
Garrett Bradbury vs. Harrison Phillips 1-1
Ben Brown vs. Javon Hargrave 0-2, decisive loss
Will Campbell vs. Jonathan Greenard 1-1, decisive loss
Marcus Bryant vs. Bo Richter 0-1-1
Cole Strange vs. Jalen Redmond 1-1
Alex Lindstrom vs. Taki Taimani 0-0-2
Caeden Wallace vs. Javon Hargrave 0-1-1, decisive loss
Vederian Lowe vs. Gabriel Murphy 0-2
Jack Conley vs. Tyler Batty 1-0-1
Sidy Sow vs. Elijah Williams 1-1
Alec Lindstrom vs. Taki Taimani 0-2
Mekhi Butler vs. Jonathan Harris 0-1-1, decisive loss
Demontrey Jacobs vs. Chaz Chambliss 1-0-1
Jack Conley vs. Unknown 2-0
Layden Robinson vs. Ingram-Dawkins 0-2 (one was illegal hands to face)
Tyrese Robinson vs. Elijah Williams 1-0-1
Video of first line:
Second line
Third line
THREE UP
QB Drake Maye: Same sort of deal today as the first day, when I mentioned that even with all the pressure, Maye has been unflappable. Mike Vrabel backed that up.
"I thought he did well," Vrabel said before practice. "It's easy to go into blender when you're seeing a bunch of this stuff and kind of scrambling and turning one less than favorable play into a real shit storm. So, I didn't see that. I thought he was able to process. And we didn't execute all the time, but I didn't see any panic from him. I thought he was able to communicate and get the things that he wanted and then hit some plays because of it. When we blocked him, we were able to make some plays and then we'll just have to try to see what happens today and continue to go from there."
WR Kayshon Boutte: Had a touchdown in 7 on 7 and the leaping TD at the end to keep the Patriots' from having an embarrassing period.
DTs Milton Williams, Christian Barmore: Seemed to generate decent pressure from the middle during team periods.
THREE DOWN
LG Ben Brown: Was 0-2 with a decisive loss in 1-on-1s and seemed to have a tough time in team periods.
LG Will Campbell: Had a really bad loss to Jonathan Greenard on an inside spin move, gave up at least one sack in team and had a false start.
"Had some good plays and had some plays where he got beat inside," Vrabel said before practice. "These are going to happen to young offensive linemen, so we're not going to sit and evaluate every practice. I'll let you guys do that, and we'll go from there and just keep trying to improve.
CB Marcus Jones: Seems like he was getting picked on, and it doesn't help that the Patriots weren't playing matchups. Carlton Davis is always the left corner even if, say, Jordan Addison is in the slot.
ODDS AND ENDS
- There were a couple of skirmishes on Kevin O'Connell's side of the field (Vikings offense).
- I don't know he is, but Vikings DT Jalen Richmond (#61) was a menace in both practices. Got Tyrese Robinson for a sack in this one, and beat Strange for another pressure.
- TreVeyon Henderson had a touchdown run sprung by a Jack Westover block. He had a few of those.
- Patriots second team line went to LG Tyrese Robinson, C Cole Strange and Sidy Sow at RG toward the middle of red zone.
- Vikings tight ends were a handful for the Patriots' LBs and safeties.
