Patriots Observations: O-Line Sees More Changes On Day 3 Of Training Camp

FOXBORO, Mass. — It seems there is a competition at both offensive tackle spots, after all.

The New England Patriots entered their third training camp practice Friday after giving first-team left tackle reps to Chukwuma Okorafor each of the first two days. Okorafor worked with left guard Sidy Sow, center David Andrews and right guard Mike Onwenu during each of the two previous sessions. There was a rotation at right tackle, but not at left.

Well, it seems it was too early to jump to any tackle-related conclusions.

“I’ll just say this about the offensive line: the best five will play,” Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said at Gillette Stadium on Friday, a similar message he’s shared previously. “Now, not going to get into who is playing guard and who is playing tackle, but as we continue to go throughout training camp and start to put on the pads, we’re going to put the best five out there.”

The Patriots mixed it up again during Day 3, and their four different first-team tackles represented the most changes thus far.

When starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett was behind center during the first 11-on-11 session, third-round Caedan Wallace was at left tackle and Okorafor was at right tackle. Sow, Andrews and Onwenu made up the interior, from left to right, as they had previously.

Then in the second 11-on-11 session, again with Brissett behind center, Vederian Lowe was at left tackle while Calvin Anderson was at right tackle. Again, Sow, Andrews and Onwenu filled the interior.

Both Anderson (Day 1) and Lowe (Day 2) previously worked with the first unit, but did so on the right side.

While the offensive lineman have expressed their willingness to play different positions, the shuffle indicates where the team is at — and not in the sense it’s just training camp.

Here are more observations from Day 3:

— Drake Maye and Ja’Lynn Polk connected on the play of the day, a deep ball down the sideline during the second 11-on-11 period. Maye, who repped behind Brissett, was 17-for-23 with one interception.

Maye’s offensive line in the initial 11-on-11 period included, from left to right, Wallace, Michael Jordan, Nick Leverett, Onwenu and Tyrone Wheatley Jr.

— Joe Milton III, who saw more reps than Bailey Zappe for a second straight day, hit rookie wideout Javon Baker on an impressive reception during the second period of 11-on-11s. It came on the practice field featuring projected third-and fourth-stringers with Brissett and Maye on the opposite field. Milton was 8-for-10 during 11-on-11s and 4-for-6 during 7-on-7s.

Milton also saw reps over Zappe when the third-string offense went against the third-string defense at the end of practice. Milton was 3-for-3 with throws to Kayshon Boutte, JaQuae Jackson and Jaheim Bell.

— Zappe has seen less competitive reps than Brissett, Maye and Milton through three practices.

— During the initial 11-on-11 period, Matthew Judon beat Okorafor around the right edge for a sack of Brissett. It came one snap after Keion White forced Brissett to escape the pocket as the edge rusher came around the left side. Ja’Whaun Bentley nearly intercepted Brissett’s pass on the play. Brissett was 0-for-3 with a sack in those six 11-on-11 reps.

Maye’s initial 11-on-11 portion was a win for the defense, as well.

— Judon later recorded a pick-six on Maye, who admitted to the “rookie mistake.”

— Maye and tight end Hunter Henry formed a nice connection during the initial 7-on-7 period with three catches on six snaps. Henry went up to Maye after the portion and gave him a high-five.

— Alex Austin recorded a pass breakup on JuJu Smith-Schuster during a 7-on-7 rep with Brissett at quarterback. Smith-Schuster has been very underwhelming thus far.

— K.J. Osborn had his best day of camp with four catches, including a pair from Brissett in the second 11-on-11 period.

— JaQuae Jackson, an undrafted rookie who the Patriots signed in June, made a pair of catches. His first came on a nice diving snag on a low misfire from Maye during the second 7-on-7 period.

— DeMario Douglas was held out of competitive periods for a third consecutive day. Mayo said prior to practice that Douglas is dealing with something, reported to be a hand injury, but the Patriots are not concerned.

— Chad Ryland went 4-for-4 while Joey Slye went 3-for-4 during the final period of practice.

— Christian Barmore and Marte Mapu did not practice, though Barmore did come out to the field after the initial stretching period.