FOXBORO, Mass. — Bill Belichick gave the veterans, and Tom Brady in particular, the night off on Friday during the New England Patriots’ annual practice under the lights at Gillette Stadium.
Season ticket holders and Foxboro and South Walpole, Mass., residents didn’t get to see Brady drop back from under center during Friday’s practice. Brady and the starters didn’t take a single snap during team drills.
Belichick handed the reins to quarterbacks Ryan Mallett and Jimmy Garoppolo. Mallett was 5-for-9 in 11-on-11s and 2-for-3 in 7-on-7s, while Garoppolo went 2-for-4 in 7-on-7s and 1-for-7 in 11-on-11s. Tight ends D.J. Williams and Justin Jones and wide receiver Derrick Johnson had drops during team drills. Johnson has struggled in team drills and 1-on-1s during training camp.
Check out the rest of NESN.com’s observations from Friday night’s training camp practice:
-The Patriots worked on situational football. They ran hail mary, safety kick and squib kick drills. They also practiced goal line situations late in the session.
-Brady spoke with some of the Patriots legends on the sideline during practice, including Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Rodney Harrison and Troy Brown.
-Cornerback Logan Ryan intercepted Mallett during 11-on-11 drills on an attempt to Williams. Rookie cornerback Travis Hawkins had an interception in 1-on-1 drills.
Here are the results from defensive back-wide receiver 1-on-1s:
Ryan beat Johnson
Safety Tavon Wilson beat Johnson
Wide receiver Brian Tyms beat cornerback Justin Green
Safety Patrick Chung beat wide receiver Cole Stanford
Wide receiver Wilson Van Hooser dropped a pass with cornerback Daxton Swanson covering him
Safety Duron Harmon beat Johnson
Hawkins intercepted a pass intended for Tyms
-Here are the results from the pass rush 1-on-1s:
Defensive tackle Marcus Forston beat offensive tackle Jordan Devey
Devey beat Forston
Guard Jon Halapio beat defensive tackle Joe Vellano
Defensive end Zach Moore beat offensive tackle Cameron Fleming
Moore beat guard Chris Barker
Defensive tackle Sealver Siliga beat center Braxton Cave
Halapio beat defensive tackle Eathyn Manumaleuna
Fleming beat Forston
Barker beat defensive tackle Chris Jones
Offensive lineman Josh Kline beat defensive end Michael Buchanan
Vellano beat Devey
-Linebacker Taylor McCuller continues to carry a white jersey to play offense. He received more reps at fullback on Friday than he did on defense.
-The Patriots have Saturday off, and they’ll head to Richmond, Va., for joint practices against the Washington Redskins on Sunday. Before the team travels to Richmond, here are some under-the-radar players who have impressed early: Hawkins, running back Stephen Houston, cornerback Malcolm Butler and linebacker Steve Beauharnais.
