FOXBORO, Mass. — The season ticket holders on hand for the New England Patriots’ annual training camp practice under the lights of Gillette Stadium received a full serving of Jimmy Garoppolo on Wednesday.
Tom Brady attempted just five passes in team drills during the session, completing all five. Garoppolo attempted 32 passes and completed just 15.
Garoppolo struggled with accuracy throughout the practice and held onto the ball too long, which has become the norm for him in practice. Garoppolo has been solid early in the summer sessions, so maybe the bright lights of Gillette made him wide-eyed. We’ll get a better sense of where the second-year pro is during the Patriots’ preseason games.
The Patriots were in shells and shorts after spending three consecutive practices in full pads, and their only team drills were 11-on-11.
— Danny Amendola, James White and Chris Harper were back to return punts during the practice with Julian Edelman out.
— Rookie center David Andrews fumbled a snap and had to take a lap. Backup Josh Kline snapped the ball with the second team in his place.
— At one point, the defense kept making personnel changes, then they had to collectively take a lap. It appears there might have been some miscommunication in goal-line drills.
— Dont’a Hightower remains in a red non-contact jersey.
— Rookie linebacker Matt Wells made a nice pass breakup during team goal-line drills over tight end Jake Bequette. Wells also was in on a pass breakup with cornerback Daxton Swanson on the next play, a Garoppolo attempt to wideout Josh Boyce. Wells came from Mississippi State highly regarded for his coverage skills.
— Bequette later caught a touchdown over safety Tavon Wilson.
— Linebacker Jonathan Freeny and cornerbacks Darryl Roberts and Bradley Fletcher also made pass breakups.
— Boyce and fellow wideout Brandon Gibson had drops during the night session.
— Garoppolo’s best throw of the night was on a deep pass to Boyce. He beat cornerback Jimmy Jean on the play.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
