The New England Patriots are 12 practices into training camp and deep in on preparations for their first preseason game on Thursday night against the Houston Texans.
It has been a tough camp filled with battles at most positions. There have even been a few surprises, most notably with the sudden emergence of rookie sixth-round draft picks Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte.
Things also feel a bit more normal this time around with Bill O’Brien stepping in as the new offensive coordinator. The offense is clicking in ways it wasn’t around this time last year, and the defense is benefitting from competitive reps.
Here’s a look at the best photos taken during the dog days of training camp up to this point: