Patriots Training Camp Observations: Key Position Battle Picks Up

FOXBORO, Mass. -- The Patriots took the fields behind Gillette Stadium on Saturday under some truly horrendous conditions.

It was hot. It was sticky. It was damn-near unbearable.

It was also the perfect opportunity for New England to crank up the physicality as it prepares for the preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers on Aug 8.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
The Patriots signed safety A.J. Thomas on Friday, adding another option to their growing list of roster-bubble safeties.

Dell Pettus and Jaylinn Hawkins, the other guys you could toss in that category, responded exactly how you'd expect -- with their best practices of camp.

Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers are one of the best back-end duos in the NFL, but it's tough to keep them both on the field without forcing one to play in a less-than-ideal position. New England wants them both to be as involved as possible, and to do that, it needs to find someone who can take snaps in the deep-third of the field.

Thomas, Pettus and Hawkins are all fighting to be that guy.

Thomas didn't get much of an opportunity to show what he can do Saturday, likely because he doesn't know anything about the defense he just joined. Pettus and Hawkins each flashed, however, taking on heftier roles in a practice in which the defense bounced back from an uncharacteristic performance the day prior. Pettus was especially physical, making a touchdown-saving tackle near the goal line on JaMycal Hasty and breaking up a pass during team drills. Hawkins looked much more like the "free" safety the Patriots are looking for, though, intercepting Jacoby Brissett on a tipped pass in the end zone and adding a pass breakup later on.

New England wants to see what it has in the 26-year-old, and expects to give him every opportunity to earn that spot this preseason.

"He's going to be a big piece of the group, and honestly, as you go throughout the preseason, he'll play a lot," Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said. "... He'll play a lot in the preseason to see what he really has to offer."

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NOTES
-- Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye both looked comfortable throwing the football Saturday, but their numbers didn't necessarily reflect the improvement. Brissett was 11-of 20 across all competitive team drills, being intercepted in both 11-on-11s and 7-on-7s. Maye was 7-of-16, with multiple incompletions coming by way of drop.

-- Vederian Lowe-Sidy Sow-David Andrews-Mike Onwenu-Caedan Wallace were the top offensive line grouping, from left to right. Leverett subbed in for Andrews during the final group period, while Wallace and Lowe were the top tackles with Chukwuma Okorafor and Calvin Anderson missing their first practices of the summer.

Kellen Diesch-Layden Robinson-Atonio Mafi-Michael Jordan-Zuri Henry were the unit for Maye.

-- Hunter Henry had perhaps his best practice in two seasons, making a couple highlight-reel grabs during team drills. The Patriots will need him to be a heavy contributor this season.

-- Chad Ryland (3-for-4) and Joey Slye (4-for-4) closed practice with a mini kicking competition. Ryland's miss was from inside 40.

-- Joshua Uche didn't participate in any team drills Saturday, departing for the lower field shortly after the start of practice. Tyquan Thornton, Marte Mapu, Sione, Joshuah Bledsoe, Marcus Jones, Kendrick Bourne, Jaheim Bell and Okorafor all watched practice, either arriving late or wearing street clothes.

-- The Patriots return to practice Monday.