FOXBOROUGH — Practice No 3 is in the books; let's run down all you need to know, including roster thoughts through this point:
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Patriots slow things way down: After just two days with helmets on, the Patriots spent Monday going through a walkthrough without headwear — unless you count the numerous bucket hats, backward baseball caps, and a few pom-pom hats (it's July, Kayshon Boutte, not January). If this were a year ago, I would be making fun of the Patriots for another Mike Vrabel Camp Cake. But, they did go to the Super Bowl and had the best injury situation in the league, so he/they shut me up. I will, however, point out these are Vrabel's season starts, which still could be relevant:
2025: 1-2
2023: 1-2
2022: 1-2
2021: 1-1
2020: 5-0
2019: 1-2
2018: 1-1
Gabe Jacas reportedly has an injury waiver on his knee: Mike Reiss reported that Jacas' contract has an injury waiver for the first three seasons, which is highly unusual and a bit of a worry, considering the team traded up to get him in the second round. It doesn't mean the team is worried about the knee. It's probably still healing. The contract impasse was probably over the guaranteed money. Instead of Jacas having to give some back, the waiver builds in protection and probably got the deal over the hump.
Still, Vrabel wouldn't say Jacas will be ready for the season — but it did sound promising.
"Nothing is 100%," Vrabel said. "I don’t anticipate that whatsoever. I don’t. I am excited where he is at. I am excited that he wants to be here, he wants to get going, and he does not want to be on the field with the trainer, I will tell you that. He wants to get back out there, play ball and be the player that we drafted and wanted to be here."
TAKING ATTENDANCE
Physically unable to perform list: DE Harold Landry, TE CJ Dippre, ED Gabe Jacas
Non-football injury list: RB Terrell Jennings.
Red non-contact jerseys: QBs.
Returned to practice: FB Reggie Gilliam (unknown), TE Jack Westover (unknown).
Full participants: RT Morgan Moses.
Out: None.
Limited: None.
New injuries: None.
DRESS CODE
No helmets. T-shirt and shorts or sweats.
LENGTH OF PRACTICE
One hour.
WAY-TOO-EARLY ROSTER/TEAM THOUGHTS
• A day after Kayshon Boutte appeared to get more run than Romeo Doubs, I'd say it went back the other way today. To this point, I'd have to put the WR roster contenders like this:
AJ Brown
Pop Douglas
Romeo Doubs
Kayshon Boutte
Mack Hollins
Kyle Williams
Efton Chism
But I was tempted to put Doubs and Boutte on the same level.
The Patriots would prefer to get something for Boutte now and move on because I don't think he is in their future plans, but things can change. Given Boutte's numerous red flags coming out of LSU, I just don't think they're going to get any substantial compensation to move him. Might as well keep Boutte, let him walk in free agency, and get the comp pick. Boutte has been working more on Maye's right the past two days.
• I've been impressed with the progress OT Marcus Bryant has made. He seems like the backup LT over veteran free agent James Hudson. I figured Bryant might be getting pushed off the roster with the veteran arrival, and the drafting of Dametrious Crownover. But Bryant is getting a lot of looks.
• Vrabel on Caleb Lomu: "Well, there are a lot of new things, a lot of firsts out there, and things that show up. Try to get him some jumbo tight end work, and he will play some tackle, he will play some guard. We are just going to look at some versatility and see where he fits and how he can help us, but there will be a lot of things that are going to be new to him and some techniques that are different and run schemes and pass protection. So, he is a willing participant, he is a willing learner. He learns quick. He usually does not make the same mistake twice."
• The judgement for a lot of positions will come when the pads go on, but so far I like Jared Wilson as center (as I did when he came out of college). He's very quick getting to the second level.
• UDFA TE Tanner Arkin is getting a lot of work as a blocking option with the starters. RB Lan Larison was with Drake Maye a lot today, but I think it was just because they want the younger players, like Jam Miller, to get more reps and learn the offense. They often used split fields today with mostly starters/veterans on one, and then backups/new players on the other.
• Patriots are definitely ramping up rookie TE Eli Raridon, and he looks good as a pass catcher, but he looks really skinny on the field. But the frame is nice to fill out.
• I think we can officially label Mike Onwenu as the type of player who uses camp to get into shape. He's been wearing a lot of extra clothes (full sweats) underneath his jersey. To each their own. It's likely his final season with the team after reworking his deal.
• Giardi relayed that edge Bradyn Swinson admitted he was not in shape last year (yeah, I remarked how I was surprised how soft his body appeared). It's not an issue this year, as he dropped from 270 to 255. Off to a much better start.
• I'll be moving linebacker KJ Britt onto my 53-man roster in the next installment. He's involved in a lot, including special teams
SCHEDULE
Tuesday: 10:15-12:15 (shells).
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: 10:15-12:00 (pads)
Friday: 10:15-12:15
Saturday: 10:15-12:15
Sunday: OFF
Monday: 10:15-12:15