6 Patriots takeaways from Day 1 of training camp

FOXBOROUGH – Patriots 2026 training camp is officially underway.

On Saturday, thousands of local fans came out to the Gillette Stadium practice fields to watch the defending AFC champions begin another quest for a Super Bowl. The weather was perfect as Mike Vrabel took his players through a new two-hour, non-padded practice.

Fans let out their first loud cheer of the day roughly 10 minutes before practice began as Drake Maye jogged on the field for the first time. The quarterback said Saturday marked a good start to the team’s season.

“It was great to be back out here. That’s the first thing. Shout out to fans. The guys have some energy,” Maye said. “We got to clean some things up. I think that’s what camp is. Kind of the first couple days you kind of get in the swing of going full speed again, and I think you got some run plays now kind of different than most he’s. But, you know, we got some stuff, I think for sure, but I think we made some plays and we just got to be consistent and more efficient.”

The Patriots didn’t have many surprises on Saturday. Gabe Jacas was the only player, not on a reserve list, absent – although the second-round pick signed his rookie deal as his teammates practiced.

Here are the top takeaways from Day 1 of training camp:

Maye wanted to start practice out with a bang. That’s why he threw the ball to A.J. Brown on his first 11-on-11 rep.

The quarterback threw a deep pass to A.J. Brown down the left sideline. The Pro Bowl receiver was well covered by Christian Gonzalez, which is why Brown leapt up and tried to make a highlight-reel one-handed catch.

The pass fell incomplete with Gonzalez holding good coverage throughout the play.

I think I had to, you know, one-on-one over there with Gonzo,” Maye said. “I tried to start off the camp a little bang, but I gotta make a better throw for him.”

Maye settled down into a decent rhythm as practice went on. The quarterback finished 6-of-9 on the day. His first completion of the day came on a 40-plus-yard deep pass to Kayshon Boutte.

Maye completed passes to five different receivers – Rhamondre Stevenson (2), Romeo Doubs, Hunter Henry, DeMario Douglas and Boutte.

Backup Tommy DeVito went 3-of-6 on Saturday. He started off 0-for-3 before completing three straight passes to end practice. His completions went to Doubs, Douglas and Eli Raridon.

Behren Morton had a nice first day of camp. The rookie completed 3-of-4 passes on the day, connecting with Kyle Dixon, Myles Montgomery and Efton Chism III.

There’s been speculation this offseason that the Patriots could trade Kayshon Boutte after they acquired Brown and Doubs.

If anything, Boutte made the most out of his opportunities on Day 1 of camp.

After Maye failed to connect with Brown, his next pass was deflected by Dre’Mont Jones at the line of scrimmage. Two plays later, Maye unloaded a deep pass down the left sideline.

Boutte was covered by cornerback Kindle Vildor, but made an outstanding diving catch. He hit the ground so hard that his helmet flew off. Boutte did a good job of holding onto the ball and then popped up with a look of confidence on his face.

That catch marked the biggest play on Day 1 of camp.

“I mean, it’s nothing new. I mean, you guys see it every day. I mean, all year, last year and year before, and he just keeps doing things right,” Maye said. “And I’m proud of him for getting in there, jumping in there, and he understands if he’s got something down the sideline and a ball down the field, that he’s got a chance that it’s coming his way. So great catch. I think that was the better start off camp with a little bit of a deep one. So, we were one-for-one to start.”

Christian Gonzalez still doesn’t have his desired contract extension, but that didn’t stop him from making an impact on Day 1 of Patriots training camp.

On the first play of 11-on-11 drills, Gonzalez showed everyone why he wants to be paid as the highest player at his position, holding solid coverage on a pass to Brown.

Many wondered if Gonzalez would report and be a full participant in training camp. There have been instances in the past of players holding out or reporting to camp, but not participating fully.

Instead, Gonzalez was a full participant during Saturday’s session, competing in everything from individual drills to full-team work.

“I think that shows his main focus, and that’s football,” Maye said. “He’s the best corner in the league in my opinion. He’s not the big rah-rah guy. He does it his own way, but he does it at the highest level. So I’m glad to be his teammate… But Gonzo is someone I look up to, you know, even at the same age. I look up to how he does things, how he handles himself, and just his swagger he has in his own way. I think it’s, you know, great to see him out here playing around. And I think you saw it in the locker room before.

“Everybody was wondering, ‘What’s Gonzo gonna do?’ And he’s coming out here and first play he’s guarding A.J. in man coverage.”

Gonzalez’s participation could also be a sign of things progressing in his contract talks with the team. Before practice, Patriots owner Robert Kraft told reporters that the team had offered Gonzalez a new extension that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL and the highest-paid player in franchise history.

“He’s definitely one of the best corners in the league and definitely deserves to be paid as such,” Carlton Davis said. “So, yeah, he’s deserving of all of it.”

DeAndre Hopkins made his Patriots debut on Saturday.

Instead of donning a team helmet and jersey, the Pro Bowl receiver was wearing team-issued shorts, a long-sleeve shirt and a white Patriots hat.

On Day 1 of training camp, the legendary receiver, who played last season in Baltimore, debuted as an assistant coach with the Patriots. Hopkins worked with Patriots wideouts, assisting receivers coach Todd Downing during the individual drill portion of practice.

The addition of Hopkins has left multiple Patriots players excited.

“I’m from the south, and DeAndre Hopkins went to Clemson two hours down the road. That’s kind of my era of watching college football and seeing him in the NFL and having him on my fantasy team,” quarterback Drake Maye said. “It’s cool to shake his hand. His hands are twice as big as mine. And just have him be out here and share some information and just be a young adult and a great player in this league. A legendary player. To play at a high level and share some information is awesome.”

On Friday, Mike Vrabel told reporters that Hopkins called him this summer, asking for a chance to be around the Patriots as he searches for what he wants to do with his playing career behind him. Vrabel noted he’d be assisting the offensive staff and even working with the personnel department to give him a sense of different NFL jobs.

On Saturday, during one drill, receivers started by throwing a medicine ball before running straight downfield. Once they turned around, Hopkins fired a pass their way.

Other times, Hopkins could be seen talking with receivers in between drills. Romeo Doubs said that having the former All-Pro receiver in meetings and at practice has been great for him and his fellow receivers.

“Yeah, it’s been really good. I mean, it’s my first time seeing D-Hop in person,” Doubs said. “I know he’s been an amazing receiver in this league. So just to have his aura, his energy around, also a huge help just in our offense. It feels good to be around.”

The Patriots didn’t have any surprises with their offensive line on Day 1.

The team’s starting lineup was as expected with left tackle Will Campbell, left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, center Jared Wilson, right guard Michael Onwenu and right tackle Morgan Moses.

Moses, who missed minicamp, and Vera-Tucker, who was limited in the spring, both returned to action.

Despite Moses being back, the Patriots are still working to develop first-round pick Caleb Lomu. The rookie started practice as the top swing tackle with the starters and then played right tackle for DeVito’s offense.

During the third 11-on-11 period, Lomu replaced Moses in the starting lineup, playing right tackle for Maye’s unit. That’ll likely continue throughout the summer.

The Patriots are missing multiple edge rushers with Harold Landry on the physically unable to perform list and Gabe Jacas yet to report. Those absences have led to Elijah Ponder receiving more opportunity with the Patriots.

On Saturday, the second-year player was the team’s starting edge rusher to begin camp. Ponder started along with veteran edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones.

“Yeah, it means a lot,” Ponder said after practice. “I mean, that’s what we’re working for. I’m just excited for the opportunity and ready to do my job.”

Ponder was one of the biggest surprises at training camp last year. The undrafted rookie made the team’s 53-man roster and then later in the season, made an impact on the field. Ponder finished with four sacks, five quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries.

Now, he’s positioned himself nicely headed into Year 2.

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