Patriots training camp at Gillette Stadium produced its loudest play Monday when A.J. Brown caught a 70-plus yard touchdown from Drake Maye during full-team work, a play that set the tone for a roughly 90-minute, full-pads session. Reported by Pats Pulpit on Aug. 17, 2026, the recap also highlighted growing timing between Maye and Romeo Doubs, a teamwide slate of 1-on-1s staged by Mike Vrabel, and measurable progress from the kicking game.
Practice snapshot — Patriots training camp in full pads at Gillette Stadium
New England returned to full pads for roughly 90 minutes (approximately 10:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. ET) on Monday at Gillette Stadium. The session emphasized full-team periods and situational work and wrapped with a timed one-minute drill that ended with a field-goal finish.
Pats Pulpit’s reporting listed attendance and observed availability for the day; the notes below are observational and not an official injury report:
- Absent: Christian Gonzalez, Kobe Prentice, Xavier Holmes, Chad Muma, Ben Brown, Kyle Dixon.
- Left practice appearing hobbled: Jesse Luketa (observed; not a formal injury confirmation).
- Returnee (limited): Christian Barmore, who worked sparingly with the first-team defense.
Coaches rotated units through longer-field sets and situational red-zone reps; pass rushers and offensive linemen matched up in extended two-minute and quick-strike periods to simulate late-game fatigue. The full-pads emphasis suggested the staff was prioritizing contact evaluation and late-summer physical preparation ahead of upcoming joint practices.
Wide receivers: A.J., Doubs and growing chemistry with Drake Maye
The top offensive moment was A.J. Brown getting wide downfield and finishing a 70-plus yard touchdown after a precise, in-stride throw from Drake Maye in full-team work. The play illustrated both Brown’s separation ability on a vertical route and Maye’s arm strength and placement on the run.
Romeo Doubs caught four passes from Maye during full-team reps. Whereas recent practice emphasis featured contested downfield work, Monday’s completions leaned toward timing routes — curls, corners and quick outs — that signal developing synchronization on intermediate concepts between Maye and Doubs. Brown also made an explosive sideline catch later in the session to keep Maye’s end-of-drill drive alive after he was flushed from the pocket.
Overall, the session suggested the receiving corps is blending contested-play ability with quicker, timing-based looks, an encouraging balance for both big-play and situational efficiency.
1-on-1s and position battles — what stood out
Mike Vrabel staged teamwide 1-on-1 matchups across the field to test one-versus-one competitiveness and to stress individual technique under live conditions. Pats Pulpit flagged several reps as particularly telling.
- Kyle Williams beat Karon Prunty on an opening rep.
- Efton Chism III bested Channing Canada on an out route.
- Eli Raridon worked past Namdi Obiazor on a corner route.
- gabe jacas failed to get by Caleb Lomu working the edge in one matchup.
Those one-on-one sequences functioned more as speed- and technique-checks than as definitive roster verdicts. The reps give coaches sharper day-to-day clarity on backups and rotational pieces, but single-practice outcomes are early indicators, not final judgments.
Special teams: Andy Borregales’ skinny-post work
Andy Borregales continued focused skinny-post drills, converting 3-of-5 attempts during Monday’s session. Pats Pulpit noted that across two practices Borregales was 10-of-12 on the skinny uprights, and the day’s one-minute drill finished with a 40-yard field goal through the skinnier posts.
The report also mentioned two misses: one from roughly 45 yards that likely would have cleared regulation uprights and a second from about 52 yards that trended left. Those details are presented as context for practice accuracy rather than a full assessment of in-season reliability.
Injury and availability update
Availability was a continued storyline. Cornerback christian gonzalez was absent as he progresses through a return-to-play plan, per Pats Pulpit. Defensive tackle Christian Barmore returned to limited work with first-team defenders, taking part in controlled reps while the staff monitors his workload.
Veteran edge/linebacker Jesse Luketa left practice early while appearing hobbled and was seen with a trainer; that observation came from the source and is not an official club statement. The team’s formal injury reports and medical updates should be watched for confirmation and timelines before drawing firm conclusions.
Fan takeaways and what to watch next
Monday’s practice produced several concise indicators for fans tracking camp progress:
- Wideout chemistry: The explosive Maye-to-Brown connection plus Doubs’ consistent timing on intermediate routes suggests the passing game is forming complementary strengths — contested downfield threats and rhythm-route efficiency.
- Depth clarity: Vrabel’s 1-on-1s accelerated clarity on backups and special-teams contributors. Expect those reps to carry weight for early depth charts, especially with fewer preseason snaps available.
- Special teams progress: Borregales’ skinny-post work is encouraging; nonetheless, preseason game environments and full-size uprights remain the true barometer.
- Injury watch: Monitor official updates for Christian Gonzalez and for confirmation on Jesse Luketa after the observed exit. Barmore’s limited return is a positive sign but should be treated as incremental progress.
What to watch next: New England will return for additional on-field work and later this week will hold joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles. Those higher-intensity meetings and the next full-pads sessions should yield clearer signs about positional pecking order, special-teams reliability, and how return-to-play timelines are aligning with coaching expectations.
Source: Pats Pulpit — original practice recap available at https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-training-camp/24480985/patriots-training-camp-recap-new-wide-receivers-continue-to-impress (Aug. 17, 2026).
