The New England Patriots continued their intense NFL Training Camp this week, with Wednesday marking the seventh practice of the summer and the third consecutive session. The rigorous schedule, including back-to-back full-pad sessions earlier in the week, appears to be taking its toll on the roster, with several players either absent or limited as the team navigates the demanding preseason grind.
Wednesday’s practice saw notable additions to the absentee list, particularly along the offensive line, a critical area facing early challenges. Offensive linemen Garrett Bradbury and Yasir Durant were sidelined after sustaining injuries that forced them out of Tuesday’s session. Additionally, Demeer Blankumsee and Trayveon Williams were new absences, hinting at the fluidity of the roster as the Patriots look to create a spot for newly-signed center Alec Lindstorm. Head Coach Vrabel emphasized the multifaceted nature of player availability, stating, “Really just trying to put this thing all together and make sure that everybody that needs to get to work for evaluation purposes, a lot of different reasons.”
With Bradbury’s unexpected exit, Ben Brown stepped into the starting center role, while rookie Jared Wilson continued to impress at left guard. Wilson, who has shown flashes of potential, remained first up at guard, raising questions about whether his natural center position has been bypassed due to earlier snapping inconsistencies during camp. The cohesion of the Patriots Offensive Line remains a key storyline to watch as the team progresses.
Fourth overall draft pick Will Campbell, who had shown promising competitiveness in the initial padded practices, encountered his first significant struggles on Wednesday. His difficulties began in 1-on-1 drills, where former LSU teammate Bradyn Swinson exploited his inside shoulder with ease. Although Campbell managed to rebound against Keion White in his second rep, the issues persisted as team drills commenced.
During team periods, edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson proved a formidable challenge for Campbell, beating him for two would-be sacks in a rapid four-play sequence, both originating from inside moves. This vulnerability to interior pressure has been a recurring theme for Campbell dating back to his college career at LSU, often attributed to an oversetting tendency that can sometimes compensate for his perceived lack of length. Despite settling down somewhat in the later team periods, this marked a clear “down day” for the highly-touted 21-year-old tackle, providing valuable film for the coaching staff to review as part of his ongoing Will Campbell Update.
In a more positive development, quarterback Drake Maye Progress was evident as he bounced back from a shaky Tuesday performance to deliver one of his most consistent practices of the summer. Maye’s improved accuracy and decision-making offered a glimpse of his potential to lead the Patriots’ offense in the future, providing a morale boost amidst the concerns elsewhere on the field.
Undrafted free agent Efton Chism III experienced a relatively quiet start to camp compared to his spring efforts. While he demonstrated good separation against Marcellas Dial Jr. on a corner route during the final team rep, quarterback Joshua Dobbs’ pass sailed over his head, highlighting the need for continued connection between signal-callers and receivers.
The team’s kicking competition saw a return to the back-and-forth format after individual showcases earlier in the week. Both Parker Romo and rookie Andres Borregales maintained perfect records, each converting all four attempts from distances ranging between 35 and 52 yards. This consistent performance from both kickers ensures a competitive battle for the special teams spot.
Looking ahead, the New England Patriots will continue their camp with a fourth straight day of work on Thursday. However, session No. 8 is expected to be a significantly scaled-back walkthrough, offering a chance for players to recover and for the coaching staff to review the intensive sessions of the past three days. This strategic adjustment aims to manage player workload and mitigate further injuries as camp progresses.
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