The Patriots hosted a joint session with the Philadelphia Eagles for their 19th training camp practice. The focus was on full-field team periods with the first and second units simulating a one-minute drive to close practice.
Here’s a look at attendance, Mike Vrabel’s quotes of note, and my top observations on a hot, cloudy day in Foxborough.
Attendance
Absent: CB Christian Gonzalez, ED Xavier Holmes, IOL Ben Brown
Physically Unable to Perform: ED Harold Landry III
Non-Football Injury: ST Brenden Schooler
Injured Reserve: WR Jeremiah Webb, WR Jimmy Kibble, TE Julian Hill, IOL Andrew Rupcich
Tweet of the Day
Milton Williams FLIPS OFF his former teammates arriving at joint practice 😂
–@CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/W6ddCjHNQm— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) August 19, 2026
Mike Vrabel’s Top Quotes of Note
On how much of a measuring stick joint practices with the Eagles will be: Well, I think they’ll be a good way to gauge that. Yes, I think that this is intentional. This is a very good football team. It has been for quite some time. They’re really good at the line of scrimmage, big physical lines of scrimmage. Certainly, an excellent quarterback. They’re well-coached, good defensive scheme, so I think this’ll be a really good measuring stick just to see where we’re at this point in camp, and how we can respond. There are going to be some good plays, and we’re going to have to make some adjustments really quickly, and then try to keep our competitive stamina throughout the day.
On whether joint practices are more valuable for evaluating the run game: I think we’ll see a little bit more. There’ll be different run defenses or run pressures. What we’ll have to see today may be different than the game. But I think we also have to be smart. We have to be able to run our offense, and if it’s a bunch of guys up there, then we won’t. But traditionally, Philly and Vic’s [Vic Fangio] defense, these guys are really good at the line of scrimmage. They’re great with their technique, the way that they play blocks, the way that they shed, and the way that the secondary comes in and supports. So, it’ll be a good test. This isn’t normally a defense that gives up a whole lot of yards in the run game.
On what he admires about the Eagles’ sustained success: Well, sustained success in the National Football League is tough, difficult. We know that the system isn’t set up for that. I think they’ve drafted well, they’ve retained their players, and they found a quarterback that they want – a franchise quarterback. I think that that’s a good place to start. When you can draft well, you can develop players and get them re-signed, and then find a quarterback that leads your football team, that’s a good place to start. What have you seen from? No, so we are going to defer to him.
On whether he likes how Andy Borregales has responded since the preseason opener: Yes, I think so. Again, I don’t want to make excuses, but we were trying to take a look at another snapper. Julian [Ashby] was dealing with something, so we felt like it would be a good opportunity to take a look at another snapper. You just understand how critical that operation is, the snap, the laces, all the other things. Yes, we have to make them. But I felt like, to Andy’s credit, he had a great day in front of the team and was able to make the one there at the end, after the two-minute drill.
On his favorite practice drill: Favorite drill. I mean, I like, we try to do an open-field tackling drill. We try to just focus on guys being able to beat people in space. We focus on guys being able to create good angles with the ball carrier coming to balance, not going off the diving board. We were terrible in Miami last year. You guys all know, you guys all reported on it, and we’ve worked hard to improve it and just how critical it is. There are so many great athletes in this league with the football, and missed tackles just end up leading to X plays. So, our ability to tackle and our ability to be able to make people miss in open field is going to be something that’s going to be really important. So, I think we get something out of that drill. I’ve seen guys improve with that drill. So that has nothing to do with any sort of contact, it’s just about body movement, being able to play balanced and being able to change direction.
Notebook
- Drake Maye and the top passing offense looked unstoppable at times against a competitive Eagles secondary. Only four of Maye’s passes hit the ground during competitive drills, which was especially impressive given how often he pushed the ball downfield. Maye began the day with completions to DeMario Douglas (corner) and A.J. Brown (crosser) off play-action, hitting his man in stride on both attempts. Maye focused more on the perimeter later in practice, including a full-extension grab from Kayshon Boutte while working the sideline and a go ball to Romeo Doubs that the receiver did a great job tracking and attacking against Quinyon Mitchell (likely would’ve been a sack in a game). The play of the day came on a go ball where Maye threw off his back foot against quick pressure, and Brown hauled it in over his shoulder against tight coverage from Riq Woolen. The top offense was clunkier during a one-minute drive due to a Doubs drop and a wheel thrown a bit short to Rhamondre Stevenson, but Maye got the offense in field goal range with a dig to Mack Hollins and an explosive scramble.
- Doubs and Maye have shown improvement on timing routes, but their connection was more hit-or-miss today. Doubs got stuck at the top of a curl against Woolen during 1-on-1s, though he made a great effort to fight through contact and high-point the pass. Later, Doubs slipped on the same route for an incompletion, which has happened a few times this summer. Maye also threw low on a slant that Doubs managed to scoop up, and Doubs dropped a dig thrown slightly behind him to kick off the starters’ one-minute drive (Maye might’ve been throwing away from coverage).
- The Patriots’ top run game looked its best all summer, consistently opening lanes for Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. Pass protection also held up well for most of practice, though there were a few potential sacks allowed.
- DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams proved to be tough covers during 1-on-1s to start practice. Douglas won all three matchups against Cooper DeJean, highlighted by a corner where he had DeJean going the opposite direction at the top of the route. Williams won his own trio of matchups against Kelee Ringo, with his best rep coming on a curl where he stacked Ringo before separating again while coming downhill. Williams also caught a curl from Maye during team periods, but he had two slant targets knocked away during the backups’ one-minute drive.
- Andy Borregales went 4-5 during a field goal period, hitting four straight with a long of 52, but he doinked his first kick outside of the upright and another inside for a close make. Borregales finished strong by capping two one-minute drives with long field goals.
- The Patriots intercepted five passes during competitive drills, with Craig Woodson (2) and Marcus Jones (1) stealing passes for the top unit.
- The starting and backup defenses won each of their one-minute drives. Craig Woodson, Christian Barmore, and Kevin Byard III all had sacks for the first group, and the Eagles failed to reach field goal range before time ran out. Kindle Vildor ended practice by intercepting backup Tanner McKee.
- John Saunders Jr. baited third-stringer Cole Payton into an interception during late team periods for his fourth pick of the summer. Byard called Saunders a baller with the unique ability to create turnovers.
