Patriots training camp Day 6: Two linebackers flash, Cam Newton-Mac Jones QB competition heats up

FOXBORO — For a stretch in Monday’s practice, Mac Jones was the only quarterback.

He took 16 straight reps in consecutive team drills, completing 83% of his passes. He carved up the middle of the field and even completed a deep ball to little-known receiver Isaiah Zuber. Jones was the guy.

Then, he trotted off to the sideline, and the scout-team defense he’d diced up exited, too. Cam Newton, who was coming off an 0-for-3 stretch and his third pick of camp, entered across from the starting defense. And Newton reminded why he’s actually the guy.

Newton went 3-of-3 in the high red zone, around an option run and a rushing touchdown. He hit Jakobi Meyers twice, and practice-squad wideout Kristian Wilkerson, before Jones re-entered and endured his own 0-for-3 stretch.

This is the nature of the Patriots’ quarterback competition. A back-and-forth battle with no time table, officially or unofficially.

Elsewhere Monday, two linebackers stood out, a defensive lineman left with an apparent shoulder injury, Meyers starred and the entire offense took a two-field lap because of one incompletion.

Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations:

Attendance

Injured: DL Henry Anderson

Absent: OL Ted Karras

Non-contact jersey: LB Kyle Van Noy

PUP: CB Stephon Gilmore, OLB Chase Winovich, QB Jarrett Stidham, DL Byron Cowart, TE Dalton Keene, LB Terez Hall

NFI: S Joshuah Bledsoe, LB Cameron McGrone

COVID-19 reserve: TE Devin Asiasi

Play of the Day

Ja’Whaun Bentley’s leaping INT

Cam Newton wanted Jakobi Meyers over the middle on a dig route. Instead, he got Ja’Whaun Bentley.

Roughly 10 yards away from the line of scrimmage, Bentley leapt straight up, shot both arms skyward and nabbed Newton’s pass during a 7-on-7 period. It marked Newton’s first incompletion of the day, and Bentley’s first pick of camp. The fourth-year linebacker has consistently taken first-team reps at inside linebacker in a pivotal summer for him competing within a crowded depth chart.

Player of the Day

LB Raekwon McMillan

Two pass breakups, and consistent opportunity on special teams. That’ll get the job done for a veteran who finds himself squarely on the roster bubble.

Before practice, Bill Belichick lauded McMillan for his intelligence and work ethic. After practice, McMillan said he aspires to be like Dont’a Hightower. With more performances like Monday’s, the former Dolphin and Raider should get to share a position room with him for the season.

QB Corner

Note: The passing stats below were tallied during competitive 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 periods only. Full training camp stats are in parentheses.

Cam Newton: 14/21, INT (45/71, 3 INTs, 4 drops)

Mac Jones: 21/28 (46/80, 2 drops)

Studs

WR Jakobi Meyers

Newton’s interception aside, Meyers inhaled all of his team-high six targets in team drills. He beat J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones and Jalen Mills for completions in the final 11-on-11 period, recording three of the four catches in that drill.

He won at the short and intermediate levels, on in-breaking and out-breaking routes; more evidence Meyers should be viewed as a potential starter just like — if not more than — free-agent additions Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne.

QB Mac Jones

The rookie displayed the same quick decision-making and calm in team drills he showed last week. What Monday featured was more scrambling, and his best period of 11-on-11s yet. More up-and-down days are coming for the rookie, but he can hold his head high after this practice.

Duds

FB Jakob Johnson

The one-time starting fullback may be getting nudged to the roster bubble, as he’s taken as many reps at tight end — if not more — than he has fullback. Johnson repped with the scout-team offense early in practice and later took a lap for his false start during 11-on-11s. He finished with one catch in team drills.

WR Marvin Hall

One catch isn’t good, but it is better than zero. That’s what Hall posted despite more than 60 snaps of team drills. He also dropped a pass during initial walk-throughs, after dropping one in the team’s last practice Saturday.

Offensive notes

• Newton’s catchable pass rate hit a camp-high 75% on the day, while Jones was a tick higher at 78.5%, another personal best.
• One of Newton’s worst misses was a tough end to a strong progression. He stared down the single-high safety in the middle early in 11-on-11s, glanced right and then whipped left to hit Jonnu Smith down the seam, only the ball sailed on him.
• Newton’s other memorable miss was a slant throw fired wide of Agholor at the 4-yard line, the final snap of the day. Bill Belichick had called for a “gotta have it” situation, and once the pass fell incomplete, a few offensive players called for a penalty on Jalen Mills, who was in coverage. But no flag was thrown, so the entire offense took a long lap.
• Jones was bailed out on two of his completions: one a diving catch by Devin Ross on a crossing route in 7-on-7s and an underthrown post throw Zuber squeezed between double coverage.
• Top targets in team drills: Jakobi Meyers (6/7), Nelson Agholor (3/5), Jonnu Smith (3/5), Tre Nixon (3/3).
  Drops: Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, Sony Michel, Nixon, Hall.
• Not only did Henry drop a pass for the second straight practice, he’s seen just six targets over the past three and caught half of them. Not great.
• Meanwhile, Smith continues to be a favorite of both quarterbacks, but still can’t shake Adrian Phillips in the red zone.
• Second-year wideout Kristian Wilkerson took more reps with the starters than most practices last week, likely a reward for his surprisingly strong camp. He caught both his targets in team drills.
• During a ball security drill, where one ball carrier jogs across the field as two defenders attempt to force a fumble, rookie running back Rhamondre Stevenson coughed up the ball twice. Ross also fumbled.
• Backup center/guard Marcus Martin continued to eat up the reps Ted Karras left behind with his injury Saturday. Martin played center and right guard with the starting group.
• Like Jakob Johnson, backup offensive lineman Alex Redmond took a lap for false-starting during a team drill.

Defensive notes

• Starting and backup personnel during scout-team periods: defensive linemen Lawrence Guy, Davon Godchaux, Akeem Spence, Deatrich Wise, Henry Anderson, Carl Davis and Christian Barmore, linebackers Dont’a Hightower, Matt Judon, Kyle Van Noy, Josh Uche, and Ja’Whaun Bentley, and defensive backs Devin McCourty, J.C. Jackson, Jalen Mills, Kyle Dugger, Jonathan Jones, Adrian Phillips, Myles Bryant, Joejuan Williams and Michael Jackson.
• Barmore, defensive tackle Montravius Adams and outside linebacker Tashawn Bower all enjoyed brief time with the starting group Monday.
• Would-be sacks: Team, Ronnie Perkins, Harvey Langi, Adrian Colbert.
  Interceptions: Bentley.
  Pass breakups: McMillan 2, J.C. Jackson, Van Noy.
• A starting defensive lineman — either Lawrence Guy or Davon Godchaux — batted another pass at the line.
• Colbert added a tipped interception during a team period run a three-quarters speed.
• Adrian Phillips has been the Patriots’ best defender through five practices.
• Devin McCourty didn’t allow a catch in any 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 period.
• During rare snaps of base 3-4 defense, Bentley repped next to Hightower at inside linebacker ahead of Van Noy, who continued to play inside and on the edge.
• McMillan said before each of his pass breakups, he watched the quarterback make eye contact with his intended receiver, which helped draw him to the ball.
• Third-year corner Michael Jackson, who’s bounced between the staring group and scout team, allowed a team-worst three catches in team drills.

Special teams

• Jake Bailey boomed multiple punts longer than 60 yards.
• Punt returners: Gunner Olszewski, J.J. Taylor, Meyers and Hall.
• During one positional period, Brandon Bolden, Brandon King, Cody Davis, Jakob Johnson, Rashod Berry and Harvey Langi worked with the specialists; an indication the Patriots view this group as their core special teams crew after Matthew Slater and Justin Bethel.

Odds and ends

• The Patriots will practice in pads for the first time Tuesday.

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