FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots will need to sharpen up before next week’s preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers.
Friday’s practice was highlighted by interceptions, drops and fumbles. Quarterback Tom Brady threw his second interception of camp. Safety Patrick Chung deflected Brady’s pass intended for tight end Rob Gronkowski while safety Devin McCourty snagged it out of the air.
Backup QB Garoppolo threw his third pick of camp. Safety Duron Harmon pulled in the interception as Garoppolo rolled out to his right and targeted wide receiver Chris Harper.
— Harper, wide receivers Josh Boyce and Jonathan Krause and running back James White each dropped a pass. Tight end Rob Gronkowski had two drops on the afternoon.
— Brady was 9 of 11 with an interception in 7-on-7 drills and 18 of 23 in 11-on-11s.
— Garoppolo was 4 of 7 in 7-on-7s and 14 of 23 in 11-on-11s.
— Wide receiver Brandon Gibson had nine catches on the afternoon, and he could be climbing up the depth chart with Aaron Dobson, Brian Tyms, Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell and Matthew Slater all out with injuries.
— Wide receiver Danny Amendola made the play of the day in 1-on-1 drills, making a diving, one-handed grab over cornerback Logan Ryan on a deep pass in the end zone.
— Here are the results from 3-on-3 drills with Garoppolo throwing:
CB Malcolm Butler over WR Boyce
CB Darryl Roberts over WR Gibson, overthrown by Garoppolo
CB Bradley Fletcher over WR Chris D’Orazio
WR Danny Amendola over CB Robert McClain
CB Roberts over WR Krause
CB Jimmy Jean over WR D’Orazio
WR Amendola over CB McClain
— Here are the 3-on-3 results with Brady throwing:
WR Amendola over CB Butler
WR Krause over CB Daxton Swanson
WR Boyce over CB Jean
WR D’Orazio over CB Butler
WR Boyce over CB Ryan
WR Harper over CB Jean
CB Roberts over WR Gibson
— Here are the results in 1-on-1s with Garoppolo throwing:
WR Amendola one-handed diving catch over CB Ryan
CB Butler beat WR Boyce
WR Gibson beat CB McClain
WR Krause beat CB Jean
WR Harper over CB Swanson
WR D’Orazio over CB Roberts
WR Amendola held by CB Roberts, still caught
WR Gibson over CB Ryan
CB Butler over WR Boyce
WR Krause over CB Butler
— Ryan worked with the safeties during 3-on-3 drills, covering tight ends, but he was with cornerbacks later in 1-on-1s.
— White and fullback Eric Kettani both committed fumbles during team drills.
— Rookie defensive end Trey Flowers impressed during 1-on-1 pass rushing drills, beating starting left tackle Nate Solder on one rep. Solder beat Flowers on the next drill.
— Center Bryan Stork and rookie defensive tackle Malcom Brown didn’t finish practice, but they stayed on the field. Running back LeGarrette Blount limped off the field with trainers after he suffered an injury during non-contact drills.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
