Patriots Practice Observations: Rob Gronkowski, Malcolm Mitchell Stand Out

FOXBORO, Mass. — Heavy rain at Gillette Stadium affected a few snaps during Day 4 of New England Patriots training camp, but it didn’t slow down Rob Gronkowski.

The Patriots tight end made two highlight grabs in the end zone during 11-on-11 drills from quarterback Tom Brady. He accidentally spiked the ball into a community relations tent beside the practice field then ran over to the group for high fives.

Excitement continued to rise on offense after tight ends Martellus Bennett and Bryce Williams caught passes in the end zone from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Here’s what else stood out at practice:

— Garoppolo and fellow QB Jacoby Brissett each had to take laps after fumbled snaps. Their centers, Kyler Kerbyson and David Andrews, also had to go for a run. Defensive tackle Markus Kuhn and linebacker Elandon Roberts recovered the fumbles.

— Brady was 5 of 7 in 11-on-11 drills and 20 of 30 overall.

— Garoppolo was 4 of 7 with an interception in 11-on-11s and 21 of 29 with two interceptions overall. Those were Garoppolo’s first picks of camp.

— Brissett was 0 for 1 in 11-on-11s and 11 of 17 overall.

— Wide receivers DeAndre Carter and Aaron Dobson had drops during team drills.

— Safety Devin McCourty and defensive back Brock Vereen snagged Garoppolo’s interceptions.

— Cornerbacks Justin Coleman and Logan Ryan and linebacker Jamie Collins recorded pass breakups during team drills.

— Here are the results from receiver-defensive back 1-on-1 drills:

CB Malcolm Butler beat Dobson
Gronkowski beat SS Patrick Chung
WR Chris Harper beat Ryan
WR Malcolm Mitchell beat Coleman
Gronkowski beat FS Duron Harmon
Gronkowski beat SS Jordan Richards
Dobson beat CB Cyrus Jones
TE A.J. Derby beat SS Vinnie Sunseri
Harper beat CB E.J. Biggers
Vereen broke up a pass intended for Gronkowski
Mitchell beat CB Darryl Roberts
Derby beat McCourty
Carter caught a deep pass over CB Cre’Von LeBlanc
SS Cedric Thompson beat Derby
CB Jonathan Jones beat WR Devin Lucien
Butler broke up a pass intended for Dobson
Chung broke up a pass intended for Gronkowski
Harper beat Ryan
Derby beat McCourty
Mitchell beat V’Angelo Bentley
Gronkowski beat Harmon
Richards beat Gronkowski
Coleman broke up a pass intended for Dobson
Sunseri broke up a pass intended for Derby
Biggers broke up a pass intended for Harper
Gronkowski beat Vereen
Mitchell beat Roberts
Carter beat Jones
Thompson broke up a pass intended for Derby
Jones beat Lucien

— Mitchell specifically stood out during 1-on-1s after missing practice Saturday. Mitchell also walked out to practice with Brady.

— Here are the results from 1-on-1 pass-rushing drills:

DL Rob Ninkovich beat OL Marcus Cannon
OL Ted Karras beat DL Anthony Johnson
Andrews beat DL Markus Kuhn
OL Joe Thuney beat DL Malcom Brown
OL Nate Solder beat DL Jabaal Sheard
DL Chris Long beat OL Cameron Fleming
OL Jon Halapio beat DL Joe Vellano
DL Terrance Knighton beat Kirbyson
DL Frank Kearse beat OL Chris Barker
OL LaAdrian Waddle beat DL Shea McClellin
DL Trey Flowers beat OL Keavon Milton
DL Vincent Valentine beat OL Ted Karras with a spin move
Andrews beat DL Woodrow Hamilton
Thuney beat DL Rufus Johnson
Sheard beat Solder
Ninkovich beat Cannon
Halapio beat DL Geneo Grissom
Johnson beat Kirbyson
Barker beat Vellano

— Thuney, a 2016 third-round pick, has excelled in 1-on-1s in two straight days now. He’s been the best offensive lineman through the first two days of padded practices.

— Wide receiver Chris Hogan didn’t finish practice after injuring his shoulder early during a blocking drill.

— Guards Josh Kline and Shaq Mason aren’t participating in team drills yet, leaving Thuney and Karras as the top guards.