The offensive line welcomed back key backup center Nick Leverett after he missed the last three practices. However, Vederian Lowe had to leave practice early with a possible torso injury.
Cornerback Shaun Wade returned to the field after several days off but exited midway through practice due to an unspecified injury.
Oshane Ximines and Joshua Uche were present, but Uche didn’t practice, and despite being in pads, Ximines also did not participate.
Austin Hooper was a full participant in practice after being limited earlier in the week.
After practice, the Patriots announced they released nose tackle Mike Purcell, who had been signed after Christian Barmore was diagnosed with blood clots.
1.Drake Maye’s Busy Day in a Prep-Focused Practice:
As the regular season approaches, the Patriots are focusing more on scouting and opponent preparation, leading to a busy day for quarterback Drake Maye. He was the only quarterback to lead multiple drives in team periods. Although Maye mixed in with the starting offensive line and skill players, it wasn’t all at once. Maye took snaps from David Andrews against the starting defense, handing off the ball both times—another step toward potentially securing the top quarterback job. Maye’s growing confidence was evident during 7-on-7 drills, where he completed back-to-back passes, one to K.J. Osborn and another to Austin Hooper. He also connected with Jalen Reagor and launched a deep pass to DeMario Douglas, which was slightly off-target. While Jacoby Brissett had some strong moments, including throws to Tyquan Thornton and Douglas, he also struggled, nearly getting intercepted twice.
Head Coach Jerod Mayo emphasized the importance of clean execution from his quarterbacks, noting that while Brissett is still the starter, Maye is “100% ready” to run the huddle, with a final decision on the starter expected soon.
2.Offensive Tackle Depth Concerns:
With Calvin Anderson already sidelined, Vederian Lowe’s injury further strains the Patriots’ offensive tackle depth. Lowe’s departure left Caedan Wallace to fill in at left tackle and serve as the second-string right tackle. With few options remaining, a tackle signing before the preseason finale seems likely. If the Patriots aren’t confident in starting Wallace, Mike Onwenu might move to tackle with Chuks Okorafor switching to the blindside. On the interior, Layden Robinson and Sidy Sow continued to rotate, with Mayo acknowledging the ongoing competition for starting spots.
3.Chad Ryland Struggles in Kicker Competition:
Chad Ryland’s performance in practice hurt his chances of winning the kicker job, as he went 1-for-4 on field goals from 33 to 55 yards, while Joey Slye was perfect, going 4-for-4. Ryland’s struggles make it difficult to see him unseating the more experienced Slye, though Ryland remains a strong candidate for the practice squad.
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