Patriots Training Camp Day 1: Not Cam Newton's Best Day As QB Battle With Mac Jones Takes Center Stage
BOSTON (CBS) -- Football is back. Yes, it's short-and-T-shirts. No, there's no contact, and no opponent, and no real football, per se.
But football, nevertheless, is back.
The Patriots hit the practice field on Wednesday, their first on-field session of 2021 training camp. With the Patriots' first preseason game vs. Washington a little over two weeks away, the team doesn't have too long to get things in order as they prepare for the real season to begin in September.
Here's what stood out on Wednesday.
Cam Newton, Mac Jones Receive Ovation From Fans
Cam played a full season for the Patriots but never got to hear from New England fans. They welcomed him to the practice field on Wednesday with a roar, and they did the same for rookie QB Mac Jones.
QB Cam Newton out for Day One of practice here at #PatsCamp - #Patriots #WBZ @wbz pic.twitter.com/7nJbLTPcQv
— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) July 28, 2021
Mac Jones the 3rd player out on the field - much to the delight of #Patriots fan here - on Day One of #PatsCamp - @wbz #wbz pic.twitter.com/0JDIypHbyE
— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) July 28, 2021
Attendance
Some of the players who had been placed on the PUP list -- like Kyle Van Noy and Trent Brown -- were participating, indicating that their stay on the PUP list is over.
Notable absences included Stephon Gilmore and Jarrett Stidham (both on the PUP list) and Devin Asiasi, who reportedly is recovering from COVID-19.
Absent from the start of practice:
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) July 28, 2021
QB Jarrett Stidham
CB Stephon Gilmore
LB Brandon King
TE Dalton Keene
LB Chase Winovich
RB Rhamondre Stevenson
LB Cameron McGrone
LB Anfernee Jennings
LB Terez Hall
S Joshuah Bledsoe
TE Devin Asiasi
DT Byron Cowart https://t.co/LlcfD3Mod1
Chase Winovich and Stephon Gilmore later appeared, though they weren't participating in the team practice.
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore (quad) has made a late appearance at Patriots training camp practice in sweats. Looks like he had been working with trainers.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) July 28, 2021
Chase Winovich also now present.
Fumblerooski
If you fumble the ball at camp, you run a lap. Mac Jones experienced that shame for the first time.
First penalty lap of practice: Mac Jones.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 28, 2021
The crowd cheers as he jogs around the field after losing control of the football.
As the old saying goes: Ball security is job security.
Not The Best Day For Cam
As WBZ-TV's Levan Reid put it, Cam Newton was "not having the best afternoon."
Here we go and @CameronNewton is not having the best afternoon especially on 11 on 11 drills. #WBZ #Patriots
— Levan Reid (@LevanReid) July 28, 2021
Adrian Phillips with a nice INT of a poorly thrown ball by Cam Newton. Cam spiked a football into the ground shortly thereafter. #Patriots
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) July 28, 2021
Cam's final 4 reps were bad. Missed Henry in the back of the end zone by throwing ball behind him; wasn't close on the next throw. Can't tell you who it was for. Then he was way high on a toss to Bourne and threw behind Henry and got picked by Phillips at goal line. #Patriots
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) July 28, 2021
QB Competition Is On
Bill Belichick all but confirmed on Tuesday that the quarterback position is up for grabs, much like any position on the roster. To that end, neither Cam nor Mac Jones was perfect. But there was plenty to like about the rookie's day.
Both QBs had some ups and downs (more detail to come), but one of my biggest takeaways on Day 1 is how quickly the ball comes out of Mac Jones' hand when he finishes his drop. Decisive.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 28, 2021
Cam Newton took all the top QB reps. Jones followed him.
Looks like a good competition.
N'Keal Harry from Mac Jones. Hasn't looked like the worst WR in the team. pic.twitter.com/ZOpaMyDfAu
— McGarvin L (@PatriotsPOV) July 28, 2021
Five of Mac Jones' completions were absolutely perfect throws. He made a few mistakes and fumbled a snap, but he might have had the five best throws of the day.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) July 28, 2021
Cam Newton led off all but one period of the initial practice of camp and was 8 of 15 with 2 INTs in team drills. One of the INTs was a James White drop to Raekwon McMillan. Mac Jones was 9 of 19 with 2 drops and a throwaway. Hoyer ran scout team. Stidham on PUP.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) July 28, 2021
QB stats from today:
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) July 28, 2021
11-on-11s:
Newton: 5 of 11
Jones: 8 of 15
Hoyer: 8 of 17
7-on-7s:
Newton: 3 of 4
Jones: 1 of 4
Order went Newton, Jones, Hoyer in every drill, but Jones got an extra series in one set of 11-on-11s
Odds & Ends
Cam Newton scrambled for a touchdown then posed in front of the bleachers. Crowd went nuts.
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) July 28, 2021
Nelson Agholor definitely stood out as the best separator among the receiver group so far. Caught two TDs in the most competitive reps. Did a nice job working the back of the end zone. #Patriots
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) July 28, 2021
#Patriots rookie QB Mac Jones throwing to his WRs on Day One of #PatsCamp - #Patriots #WBZ pic.twitter.com/8EkJYfuYUF
— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) July 28, 2021
Some low red zone 7-on-7 with four reps each for Cam and Mac. Cam went 3-of-4 with TDs to Kendrick Bourne and Kristian Wilkerson. Mac was 1-on-4. Ended with a nice TD to Agholor with Bethel in coverage. #Patriots
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) July 28, 2021
Highlight-reel touchdown catch by Kristian Wilkerson. He got up to snatch a goal-line fade away from Dee Virgin (who, it should be noted, was wearing pads on his hands)
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) July 28, 2021
Patriots WR N'Keal Harry caught two touchdowns in red-zone drills — one from Mac Jones and one from Cam Newton.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) July 28, 2021
The 2019 first-round pick is showing up after requesting a trade earlier this summer.
The Patriots will be back at it again on Thursday morning, and then again on Friday and Saturday.