Tag: Brian Hoyer

5 takeaways from Patriots’ annual in-stadium practice

5 takeaways from the Patriots’ in-stadium practice.

The New England Patriots were back on the practice field on Friday night for their annual in-stadium practice at Gillette Stadium.

There was a great fan turnout on a night where the team put on the pads and went through the entire pregame process. This practice typically serves as somewhat of a dress rehearsal, but things initially looked to be a bit more amped up in the early-going.

Players split up for a Team Blue vs. Team White matchup. Matt Patricia was calling the offensive plays for Team Blue with Mac Jones at quarterback, while Team White was left to Joe Judge and rookie Bailey Zappe.

It was the final practice of the week with the team slated to be off for the weekend before returning to prepare for Thursday night’s preseason opener against the New York Giants.

Here are five takeaways from the team’s in-stadium practice.

Matt Judon absent; Devin McCourty returns to in Patriots practice

A handful of veterans returned to practice after getting apparent maintenance days on Wednesday.

Outside linebacker Matthew Judon was absent from New England Patriots practice on Thursday. He and tight end Dalton Keene were the lone absences for undisclosed reasons. Defensive end Deatrich Wise remained limited.

New England Patriots safeties Devin McCourty and Jabrill Peppers, cornerback Malcolm Butler, quarterback Brian Hoyer and receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey returned to practice on Thursday after missing time. Butler missed Wednesday’s slower-paced session and Hoyer has been absent since July 29.

Hoyer was dealing with an illness, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. Butler seemed to get a veteran rest day — he returned from retirement and may need the occasional maintenance day to get back into football shape.

In Hoyer’s absence, the Patriots made heavy use of rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe. Butler’s absence provided more reps for young cornerbacks Jack Jones and Joejuan Williams.

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Mac Jones and Brian Hoyer among early arrivals to training camp

The quarterback position is getting a head start in training camp.

Several New England Patriots players are reporting to training camp early before practices get underway. Quarterbacks Mac Jones and Brian Hoyer are part of the first arrivals, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. The pair will also join fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe at camp.

This allows the quarterback position to get a headstart before camp begins next week. Jones is looking to build off a strong 2021 season. He passed for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Now, he will have a chance to work with new weapons at the wide receiver position in addition to other moves made on that side of the football.

Jones has also worked on his physique over the course of this offseason. He heads into training camp slimmer than before.

He will undoubtedly lead the charge offensively. With the AFC East getting crowded, the former Alabama star will have to be on top of his game.

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Former Michigan State football QB Brian Hoyer staying with Patriots

Brian Hoyer got a new contract to stay with New England

Brian Hoyer has inked a new deal with the Patriots, keeping him in New England for another two seasons. This contract extends Hoyer’s third stint with the Patriots.

Hoyer’s contract is for $4-million over 2 years with $3-million of it guaranteed.

Hoyer has been a bit of a journeyman in the NFL, spending 13 NFL seasons with 9 different teams. He started his career with the Patriots and spent his first three seasons there. Hoyer came back to New England in 2017, and besides a quick stint in Indianapolis in 2019, has been there ever since.

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Report: Patriots agree to terms on two-year deal for Brian Hoyer

The Patriots successfully retain their backup quarterback for another season.

The New England Patriots agreed to terms on two-year deal, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss and the Boston Globe’s Jim McBride. The financials of the deal have yet to be reported.

Hoyer rejoins the Patriots after serving as the team’s backup quarterback for the last two years, with a particularly successful stint as Mac Jones’ mentor in 2021. Hoyer served as a player-coach in the quarterback room as Jones entered his first season as an NFL starter. And while the Patriots may lose offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the team seems to have made an effort to keep some of Jones’ other support systems intact.

Hoyer rejoins a quarterback group that includes Jones and Jarrett Stidham.

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Report: Patriots to place Brian Hoyer on COVID-19/reserve

Brian Hoyer could get off COVID-19/reserve by Week 17, if necessary. He won’t practice, however.

The New England Patriots are expected to place quarterback Brian Hoyer on the COVID-19/reserve list, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. The team still has quarterbacks Mac Jones and Jarrett Stidham available, though that could change if COVID-19 is spreading around the Patriots locker room and quarterback room.

Hoyer has served as the team’s backup for the Patriots in 2021 and was in the role for most of 2020 until Jarrett Stidham won the job. This year, with Jones at QB1, Stidham started the season on injured reserve after undergoing surgery. He returned to the active roster, but has not taken back his backup gig. He has yet to see the field in 2021.

If he is added to the list on Tuesday, Hoyer would be eligible to return by Week 17 if he works his way through the NFL’s protocols for players on COVID-19/reserve. He won’t practice, however.

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Mac Jones discusses his transition to playing football in cold weather

“Just asking Brian [Hoyer] a lot of questions, really.”

Mac Jones was raised in Jacksonville, Florida and played college football at Alabama — two very warm places.

Since his career is ahead in Foxborough with the New England Patriots, it’s time to start getting used to the cold weather. Tom Brady, who lived his early years in California, at least had some time at Michigan to make the transition to cold-weather football.

Jones is looking to make this adjustment on the fly as the Patriots are now entering December, which carries snow and many cold days ahead. Following the Patriots’ practice on Wednesday, the rookie discussed his approach.

“I think just take each day day-by-day and try not to focus on it too much and just wear whatever you’re supposed to wear and take the advice from the older people that have played a lot in the cold and just trying to figure it out,” Jones said, transcribed by WEEI. “It’s just another challenge, but you just have to look at it positively, like as if it was raining or really windy or whatever the situation is. It’s football, and you’re going to have days where it’s cold and days where it’s windy and days when it’s raining, so you have to be ready for all situations.”

Brian Hoyer is one of Jones’ best assets for growth on the team and he’s been dishing out advice on how to stay warm during games.

“Just asking Brian [Hoyer] a lot of questions, really,” he said. “Just that, and then, you know, you can’t wear too much, but you also don’t want to wear too little, but at the end of the day, it’s just a mental thing, and you got to just battle through it and take each experience and see what you can do better. If you think you’re too cold, then put more on and vice versa.”

The cold weather is officially here, so Jones has no choice but to get used to it and build his best routine.

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Patriots fans lost their minds when Jakobi Meyers scored his first career TD

It took 135 receptions, but Jakobi Meyers now has an NFL touchdown.

Jakobi Meyers did it.

He scored his first NFL touchdown on reception No. 135 in his career — the next-longest number of catches before scoring a touchdown is 80 by Bobby Wade. Meyers had four receptions for 49 yards and the touchdown in the New England Patriots’ 45-7 rout of the Cleveland Browns.

Entering the game, the third-year receiver was leading the Patriots in targets (72), receptions (46) and yards (434). Meyers’ success this season is stemming from the ascension of Mac Jones — who threw for 198 yards and three touchdowns in the win against Cleveland.

Here’s a look at Meyers’ first touchdown catch, which was thrown by Brian Hoyer, along with the reaction from Patriots fans.

Brian Hoyer has simple yet important advice for Mac Jones

Brian Hoyer has an important piece of advice for Mac Jones.

As quarterback Brian Hoyer continues to be a mentor to New England Patriots rookie Mac Jones, the veteran has been giving the young signal-caller advice throughout the process. Some of the advice is even simpler than one might expect.

A 13-year veteran, Hoyer has been through NFL life and has seen it all. He also knows at the end of the day, it’s just a game.

With Jones coming off his first 300-yard passing game of his career, Hoyer continues to hammer home one important message for the rookie. As the relationship between Jones and Hoyer continues to grow, Hoyer is not afraid to offer tips.

“I’m telling him, ‘Dude, you’ve got to smile sometimes. This is supposed to be fun,’” Hoyer said. “To see him coming off, see a little emotion and energy this past week, we just have to keep improving and keep that going.”

With Jones looking to build on a solid rookie campaign to this point, cracking a smile may be needed as the wear and tear of the season begins to set in.

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Brian Hoyer has this great advice for Mac Jones as he grows with NFL career

Brian Hoyer is spot-on with this advice for the rookie QB.

Brian Hoyer certainly carries some wisdom from his time in the NFL.

The New England Patriots backup quarterback has been in the league for 13 years and seven of them have been in Foxborough. He knows, more than most people, about the rigorous grind in New England and he understands how to navigate it.

Because of this, Hoyer relayed some very simple advice to Mac Jones.

“I’m telling him, ‘Dude, you’ve got to smile sometimes. This is supposed to be fun,’” Hoyer said to reporters, via WEEI. “To see him coming off, see a little emotion and energy this past week, we just have to keep improving and keep that going. For me, it’s a pleasure first and foremost to be part of this team and organization. I love the guys in that locker room, but to take on this role in my 13th year with the knowledge I have accumulated over the years in this offense, I am always trying to point something out, or he has a question, that’s part of my job. So, it’s always great to see him continue to progress and continue getting better.”

When it comes to Hoyer’s relationship with Jones, he’s thoroughly enjoying it.

“It’s been great,” he said. “First, the thing you notice about Mac and everybody sees it is he’s a very mature 23-year-old. It’s been great. The thing I have been so impressed with him is he’s constantly trying to learn, constantly trying to get better — no matter what the situation. Whether it’s after a game, in a practice and you can see the wheels are always turning. He’s always thinking what can he do better, how can he do it better. I think him being as mature as he is, he’s done that pretty quickly. This is my 13th year, there’s always room to improve, so for him he’s always looking where he can improve, asks great questions, takes a lot of great notes. He’s done a great job.”

Jones has thrown for 1,779 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions in seven games — with a 70.4 completion percentage. He’s improving each game and had his first 300-yard performance last week in a rout of the New York Jets.

The accolades and success will come — but, as Hoyer stated, it’d be beneficial to have some fun during the journey.

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