RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 3 sourcesThe first practice in pads is in the books for the New England Patriots .
On Thursday, it was as close to real football competition that we've seen since the Super Bowl, and it highlighted real growth and development for some players. The practice also showed how some of the newcomers might potentially find a role on the roster, given the uptick in intensity.
It's important to note that the Patriots were still missing two defensive starters with Harold Landry still out with a knee injury and Carlton Davis going down with an injury at Tuesday's practice. It presented an opportunity for others to step up on defense.
However, that was hard to do against a Patriots offense that was finally clicking on all cylinders. Here were the seven standouts from Day 5 of training camp practice:
QB Drake Maye
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was near flawless during the competitive period at Thursday's practice. After missing his first pass during 11-on-11s, Maye fired back with eight straight completions, including three touchdown passes to star wide receiver A.J. Brown. It was his best practice of the summer, and it came at peak intensity when players were competing in pads.
WR A.J. Brown
All of the talk about the slow start between Maye and three-time All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown got silenced on Thursday. Brown looked like Maye's favorite target on the football field, and the two connected for three touchdown passes. The defense has done a great job of taking away some of the deep completions, but there have been opportunities underneath for a versatile player like Brown to take advantage of. He's a rare playmaker who can be effective anywhere on the field.
WR Kyle Williams
Kayshon Boutte finally gave somebody else a chance to make the play of the day, and this time, it was second-year wide receiver Kyle Williams. After being on a milk carton through four practices, Williams reintroduced himself with two impressive touchdown catches, including a twisting, one-handed grab in the end zone. It was a spectacular play that highlighted the fact that Williams still has plenty of room to grow at the receiver position.
OT Will Campbell
This was a solid practice for Patriots left tackle Will Campbell, who looks significantly more comfortable than the last time he was seen in pads. His technique looked better in one-on-one reps, as he got the best of Dre'Mont Jones and Bradyn Swinson. The second-year offensive lineman has done a tremendous job of turning the page on last season and starting strong in 2026.
TE Eli Raridon
Patriots rookie tight end Eli Raridon has continued to put together a solid training camp for himself. He came away with multiple receptions on Thursday , including a touchdown pass from Drake Maye during 11-on-11s. It is looking more evident that the former Notre Dame standout should be a Day 1 contributor on offense.
TE Tanner Arkin
Speaking of standout tight ends, Tanner Arkin's blocking was something to behold at Thursday's practice. He plays with a desired edge and physicality up front. That kind of effort could go a long way for the Patriots after the team lost their previous blocking tight end, Julian Hill, to a season-ending injury back in the spring.
Run defense
The run defense was solid for the Patriots at practice. Most notably, defensive tackle Cory Durden, along with linebackers Christian Elliss and Khalil Jacobs, all had stuffs against the ground game. Jacobs, an undrafted rookie free agent, will be the player to keep an eye on throughout training camp. The Patriots might have found something in the former Missouri defender.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: 7 standouts from Day 5 of Patriots training camp practice
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