Instant takeaways from the Patriots’ 1st padded practice at training camp

Our first look at the quarterback competition between Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer.

Here are our instant observations from the first padded practice of the New England Patriots’ 2020 training camp at Gillette Stadium on Monday. The team has been at work for a few days, but this is the first open practice. Because the pandemic led to the cancellation of training camp and minicamp, it’s the media’s first in-person look at this year’s roster.

Because the Patriots are limiting the number of media members, we’ve been monitoring practice on live streams and through the notes and observations from other media members.

Not practicing: RB Sony Michel (PUP), RB Lamar Miller (PUP), WR Jeff Thomas, DT Beau Allen and LB Anfernee Jennings
Present but not in pads: TE Paul Barrett and TE Alex Ellis. (They signed with the team today, but they cannot play until they get past their COVID tests.)
Weather: 65 degrees. Overcast.
Attire: Players were in pads for the first contact practice.

Here are our notes from the day.

  • Seniority seems to be at play at quarterback, with Brian Hoyer taking the first snaps, followed by Jarrett Stidham then Cam Newton and then undrafted free agent Brian Lewerke. That’s the natural pecking order in terms of each quarterback’s experience in the Patriots’ system. It’s fair to wonder how long that ordering holds up. Newton is definitely the favorite to win the job, and Stidham beat out Hoyer for the backup job last year.

  • To that point, it’s extremely early. But perhaps Stidham is actually taking the lead, for the time being.

  • Cornerback Joejuan Williams’ training camp got off to a rough start, with Brian Hoyer and Devin Ross linking up for a 50-yard deep bomb with Williams in coverage. The Patriots drafted him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but he barely played last season. Ross, meanwhile, had a nice day.
  • The Patriots have yet to have a player test positive for COVID-19 at training camp. They are just one of five teams in the NFL to have that distinction. “I think that the team and the organization have addressed this very professionally, strictly, and we’ve changed quite a bit as more information or different techniques or products or whatever have become available or our information has changed,” Bill Belichick said Monday morning. “So, we’ve been very fluid with this, the players have done a great job of following protocols, and we’ve also had a lot of great feedback from the players on things, suggestions.”
  • Everyone needs to relax about Thomas. I am among those who wrote about the young wideout and why he’s got a shot to make the team as an undrafted receiver. But the hype is getting to be too much. He wasn’t working on the field on Monday — he needs to be out there and healthy if he’s going make the team.
  • There is some chatter that the Patriots may use Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle, according to ESPN. Though it’s not clear where he got his work on Monday (because reporters aren’t allowed to say), he did get a lot of work. The Patriots may also have big plans for 2020 second-round pick and linebacker Josh Uche, who got a lot of work.

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