7 Patriots takeaways from Day 11 of training camp

FOXBOROUGH – Before the action starts, the Patriots took it easy on Day 11 of training camp.

Coming off an intense padded practice, Mike Vrabel held a walkthrough on Tuesday. The rest day came at a perfect time, as the Patriots will welcome the Washington Commanders on Wednesday for their first joint practice session of the summer.

Headlined by quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders are coming off a 12-5 season, which saw them make it to the NFC Championship game.

“Any time you get a playoff team to come in against you, we’ll play them to see how we measure up. It’s a great opportunity,” Jabrill Peppers said. “We’re going to be focused. They’re going to be focused. It’s going to be a good time.”

The 2024 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Daniels, will present a significant challenge for an improved Patriots defense. Daniels is coming off a season where he threw 3,568 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. On the ground, he ran for 891 yards with six touchdowns. That performance also earned him Pro Bowl honors and a top 10 in the MVP voting.

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Under Vrabel, the Patriots changed their defensive scheme, which features an attacking style that puts pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Wednesday’s practice will be a good challenge for the group.

“It’ll be a good test,” Peppers said. “Obviously, we can’t tackle in practice, but just to see how many times he breaks contain, see what QB runs will hit, and things like that. We play against some good mobile quarterbacks this year, so we’ll definitely see how we track our eyes, track our guys, get off the blocks and things like that.”

On offense, the Patriots will compete against a veteran-laden defense. The Commanders feature standout players such as Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, Bobby Wagner, and Von Miller. Washington also added former Patriots starters Jonathan Jones and Deatrich Wise this offseason.

“We’ve been going against each other since the spring, so I think it’ll be good to go against other people, see different matchups, see where we’re at as a team,” receiver Kayshon Boutte said. “I think as a team, overall, we’re ready, but we’ll find out when the time comes.”

Kayshon Boutte’s work’s paying off

Kayshon Boutte certainly knows how to make a lasting impression.

During last week’s in-stadium practice, the receiver opened up eyes with a 50-yard touchdown off a Joshua Dobbs deep pass. In his next practice, on Monday, Boutte finished the session with a highlight-reel touchdown on the right side of the end zone.

The situation called for one final play on fourth down when Maye rolled out of the pocket and hit the receiver, who was somehow able to keep his feet in bounds.

“I would say I for sure caught the ball. I think the main focus was getting both feet in bounds, which I think I did,” Boutte said. “It was fourth-and-3, gotta have it situation. Drake just kind of got flushed out of the pocket. Just a receiver making plays.”

Those kinds of plays are why Boutte has been a mainstay with the Patriots starting offense this offseason.

The third-year receiver has been the team’s starting X-receiver for most of the offseason with OTAs, minicamp, and training camp. Coming off a career year, where he caught 43 passes for 589 yards and three touchdowns, Boutte said his goal was to get in shape and maintain that shape for the entire offseason.

After minicamp, players break for a month before returning to New England for camp. Boutte made sure he stayed in shape so he wouldn’t have to get back in shape once the summer session started.

“I think my main focus this offseason was coming back in shape,” Boutte said. “I feel like I came back in shape, picked up where I left off at and not getting in shape while we’re going. I think that was my main focus, just coming back ready to roll.”

Drake Maye’s targets

The Patriots held a walkthrough with no competitive drills on Tuesday.

On offense, the team ran through different situations throughout the hour and 15-minute session. In their first 11-on-11 period, the Patriots ran through first-down players. Next period, the focus was on third down.

The team ended practice focusing on the 2-minute drill and then situational football in the final seconds of a game. That even included a simulated Hail Mary.

Maye’s favorite target on the day was DeMario Douglas, who was thrown to 11 times. Stefon Diggs was next with seven targets, followed by Hunter Henry with six. During the third-down period, Maye was mainly focused on Douglas and Diggs, who had four targets each.

Both players have established themselves as the top two pass catchers on the Patriots roster, and it hasn’t been close.

Javon Baker rises

Javon Baker continues to ascend the Patriots depth chart.

This spring, it was noteworthy that the receiver was playing on the third-string offense. On Tuesday, Baker had successfully climbed up the roster and practiced with Maye and the Patriots starting offense.

During the walkthrough, Maye worked with five receivers – Diggs, Douglas, Boutte, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, and Baker. The 2024 fourth-round pick was targeted once in team drills, but his presence with Maye’s group is a good sign.

After a slow start to camp, Baker has routinely had a highlight-worthy play almost every practice. On Monday, he caught three straight touchdowns from Joshua Dobbs to start a 7-on-7 period.

This summer, Baker opened eyes with his ability to jump over defenders and come down with the ball.

“Honestly, any guy on our team can make plays. I’m not surprised by the things he do,” Boutte said of Baker. “It might surprise you all, but we see it on the day to day. We know what everybody is capable of. It doesn’t surprise us.”

With Kendrick Bourne out, due to an ankle injury, Baker has made the most of his opportunities. On Tuesday, it was also noteworthy that he looked ahead of Ja’Lynn Polk and Efton Chism III on the depth chart.

All those players (Bourne, Baker, Polk, and Chism) could be fighting for one roster spot. Right now, it looks like Baker has the edge.

O-Line notes

One of the biggest storylines this week revolves around the Patriots offensive line.

On Monday, Morgan Moses left practice early and was replaced by seventh-round pick Marcus Bryant. Earlier in camp, Demontrey Jacobs had been rotating in with Moses, who’s on a load management pitch count this summer.

On Tuesday, Moses didn’t participate in the Patriots walkthrough. This time, the Patriots rotated Bryant and Jacobs in at right tackle.

Also returning this week is Vederian Lowe, who came off the physically unable to perform list. Lowe practiced as the backup left tackle on Tuesday.

Farmer moves up

Joshua Farmer hadn’t been seen much in training camp as he worked his way back from an injury. On Tuesday, the fourth-round pick was hard to miss.

When the Patriots starting defense was on the field against the starting offense, it was noteworthy that Farmer and Khyiris Tonga were the first defensive tackles off the bench. The pair replaced starters Marvin Williams and Christian Barmore at certain times.

Tonga has consistently been the Patriots top backup defensive tackle, but the other player with him has been Jeremiah Pharms. Farmer’s presence on Tuesday indicates that he’s moving up the Patriots depth chart.

Williams returns

On Monday, Terrell Williams, who missed this offseason due to a “serious” health issue, gave everyone a scare when he left practice early due to a medical issue.

The team later revealed that Williams was treated for dehydration and removed from practice due to precautionary reasons. On Tuesday, the defensive coordinator was back with the Patriots.

“It’s been great to have him back in the building,” defensive end Truman Jones said. “His health is something that everyone knows about, and we’re constantly keeping him in our prayers and in our thoughts, and know that he’s doing what he can to be back.”

Attendance notes

Carlton Davis returned to practice on Tuesday but still isn’t expected to participate on Wednesday during joint practices.

The veteran cornerback has practiced four times this summer, in three walkthroughs and one non-padded practice. Davis, who started camp on the non-football injury list, still hasn’t had a full padded practice with the Patriots this summer.

Also not participating on Tuesday were Christian Gonzalez, Moses, Jahlani Tavai, K’Lavon Chaisson, Marcellus Dial, Sidy Sow, Caedan Wallace, Bourne, Jaquelin Roy, and Tyler Davis.