FOXBORO, Mass. — If Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola can stay healthy in 2014, the two shifty New England Patriots wide receivers will present a unique challenge for opposing defenses.
Edelman and Amendola showed their agility and quickness Tuesday against the Philadelphia Eagles in joint team practices at Gillette Stadium. Both players won all four of their challenges in 1-on-1 drills against the Eagles, with Edelman beating cornerbacks Bradley Fletcher and Brandon Boykin, and Amendola beating safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Nate Allen.
Most teams only have one defensive back who can match up with quicker slot receivers. Covering the middle of the field will be difficult for opposing teams that have to face Amendola and Edelman.
Check out the rest of NESN.com’s observations from Tuesday’s practice:
— Quarterback Tom Brady was 8 of 10 in 7-on-7 drills and 16 of 22 in 11-on-11s. Rookie quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo didn’t allow a pass to hit the turf, going 3 of 3 in 7-on-7s and 4 of 4 in 11-on-11s. Backup quarterback Ryan Mallett, returning to practice after being absent Sunday and Monday, went 1 of 2 in 7-on-7s and 1 of 1 in 11-on-11s.
Garoppolo was impressive for the third consecutive day after he shined in the Patriots’ preseason opener against the Washington Redskins on Thursday night. He had struggled in the first two weeks of training camp, but he’s getting rid of the ball much quicker and with improved accuracy.
— Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez went 3 of 5 against the Patriots in 11-on-11 drills, and starting QB Nick Foles went 15 of 23.
— NFL officials were on the field, and they threw flags on Patriots cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Logan Ryan, Alfonzo Dennard and Travis Hawkins.
— Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano was in attendance for the second consecutive day.
— At the end of practice, Patriots center Ryan Wendell made a one-handed catch on a pass from punter Ryan Allen on a fake field goal. The play drew loud cheers from the crowd.
— Patriots linebacker James Morris participated in 11-on-11 drills for the first time during training camp.
— Patriots wide receiver Aaron Dobson participated in individual drills but not team drills or 1-on-1s.
— Defensive tackle Dominique Easley went 1-for-3 in 1-on-1 drills against the Eagles’ offensive linemen.
— Here are the results for Patriots defenders against Eagles wideouts in 1-on-1 drills:
Patriots cornerback Brandon Browner beat Eagles wide receiver Ifeanyi Momah.
Eagles wide receiver Brad Smith beat Ryan.
Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews dropped a pass with Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington in coverage.
Revis beat Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.
Eagles wide receiver Arrelious Benn beat Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler.
Eagles wide receiver Damaris Johnson beat Patriots cornerback Jemea Thomas.
Ryan beat Eagles receiver Kadron Boone.
Dennard beat Eagles receiver Jeff Maehl.
Eagles wide receiver Josh Huff beat Patriots cornerback Justin Green.
Smith beat Thomas.
Matthews beat Arrington.
Patriots cornerback Daxton Swanson beat Eagles receiver Will Murphy.
Patriots safety Patrick Chung beat Johnson.
Ryan beat Maclin.
Browner beat Eagles receiver B.J. Cunningham.
Momah beat Dennard.
Huff dropped a pass with Thomas in coverage.
Matthews beat Hawkins.
Butler beat Maclin.
Benn beat Swanson.
Maclin beat Arrington.
Smith beat Chung.
Green beat Maehl.
Dennard beat Cunningham.
Matthews beat Ryan.
Hawkins was flagged on a pass intended for Johnson.
Murphy dropped a pass with Revis in coverage.
Butler picked off a pass intended for Eagles receiver Quron Pratt.
Ryan was flagged on a pass intended for Matthews.
Boone beat Chung.
Huff beat Green.
Momah beat Browner.
Smith beat Arrington.
— Here are the 1-on-1 battles between Patriots receivers and Eagles defensive backs:
Eagles cornerback Cary Williams beat Patriots receiver Kenbrell Thompkins.
Amendola beat Jenkins.
Edelman beat Fletcher.
Boykin beat Patriots receiver Brian Tyms on an overthrow.
Patriots receiver Derrick Johnson beat Allen.
Eagles cornerback Curtis Marsh beat Patriots receiver Brandon LaFell.
Patriots receiver Matthew Slater beat Eagles cornerback Roc Carmichael.
Patriots receiver Wilson Van Hooser dropped a pass against Jenkins.
Eagles defensive back Davon Morgan beat Patriots receiver Josh Boyce.
Thompkins beat Eagles defensive back Jaylen Watkins.
Amendola beat Allen.
Edelman beat Fletcher.
Williams beat Tyms.
Jenkins beat Tyms.
LaFell beat Marsh.
Boykin beat Slater on an overthrow.
Van Hooser beat Allen.
Boyce beat Watkins.
Thompkins beat Carmichael on a diving catch.
Amendola broke Jenkins’ ankles on a sharp route.
Edelman beat Fletcher.
Tyms beat Morgan.
Johnson beat Allen.
Marsh beat LaFell on an overthrow.
Boykin beat Slater.
Jenkins beat Van Hooser.
Watkins beat Boyce.
Carmichael was flagged against Thompkins.
Amendola beat Jenkins.
LaFell beat Fletcher.
Morgan beat Tyms.
Edelman beat Boykin.
Boyce beat Marsh.
Carmichael was flagged against Slater.
Huff beat Jenkins.
