Patriots training camp Day 8: Mac Jones rebounds with big day, Cam Newton throws two INTs

FOXBORO — It’s a common refrain at this stage of Patriots training camp.

We’ve got a lot of work to do.

After seven practices, no position understands that better than the quarterbacks.

Cam Newton threw two interceptions in live team drills Wednesday and almost tossed a third, after edging out first-round rookie Mac Jones over the first week of training camp. Coming off his worst practice as a pro, Jones rebounded with an excellent performance, throwing an accurate pass on 87% of his dropbacks in competitive periods. The gap between the two closed slightly, though more will be learned Thursday when the Pats don pads again.

The Patriots practiced in shorts and shells Wednesday, devoting most periods to kickoffs and passing.

Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations.

Attendance

Injured: WR Devin Ross

Returned: DL Henry Anderson

Absent: LB Raekwon McMillan, DL Akeem Spence, OL Ted Karras (left leg)

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

Olszewski splits double coverage deep

Another day, another bomb.

This time, Jones found Gunner Olszewski on a post that split backup defensive backs Myles Bryant and Cody Davis deep in 11-on-11s. Jones’ pass covered roughly 50 yards in the air, settling in Olszewski’s arms steps in front of the goal line. It was the longest completion of the day and one of the prettiest of camp.

Player of the Day

WR N’Keal Harry

Harry caught all six targets in team drills, including a slant pass thrown a step too far ahead of him he secured by going full extension. He beat J.C. Jackson on the slant and Joejuan Williams on three other reps. Whether Harry stays in New England or gets traded, he’s helped himself this summer.

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: 7-13, 2 INTs (56/92, 5 INTs, 5 drops)

Mac Jones: 17-23, INT (67/112, 2 INTs, 4 drops)

Studs

QB Mac Jones

Were it not for Jonnu Smith tipping a middle-of-the-field pass to Devin McCourty for an interception, the rookie’s day would’ve been nearly spotless.

He completed 12 of his first 14 throws, including a 5-for-5 stretch against the starting defense. Jones hit rocky waters over the next three reps — including his pick to McCourty — before closing with six straight on-point passes around a sack. Overall, Jones completed a variety of throws, from check-downs to curls, posts and digs, and looked unfazed by his down day Tuesday.

CB J.C. Jackson

Jackson snatched Newton’s first pass of 7-on-7s, a late curl throw to Jakobi Meyers after receiver and defender came to a standstill. On the next snap, Jackson nearly intercepted Newton again, jumping a short pass over the middle. The only receptions he surrendered in team drills were tightly contested catches, a case of great offense beating good defense.

Duds

QB Cam Newton

He’ll bounce back, but the quarterback who practiced Wednesday would not hold his starting job for long. Were it not for Harry’s full-extension grab, Newton would have finished with a completion percentage below 50%. And were it not for a Jackson drop, his interception total would’ve hit three.

CB Joejuan Williams

While Newton benefitted from Harry’s outstanding day, Williams took the brunt of it. His three allowed catches in 11-on-11s, most among defensive backs. Williams continues to bounce between the scout team and starting group in team periods and still figures to be squarely on the roster bubble.

Offensive notes

• More than completion percentages or touchdowns, Wednesday’s biggest development was the stretch of 16 straight reps Jones took in team periods.
• The coaching staff seemed to force-feed Jones after a difficult practice Tuesday. He took the reins after Newton went 2-of-3, with Harry bailing him out on a tough slant throw.
• The rookie looked equally comfortable against the starting defense and scout-team. He was decisive, spread the ball around and flashed a quick release, just as he has all camp.
• Newton’s catchable pass rate sunk to 61.5% in team drills, well below Jones’ 87%.
• His first interception was thrown behind Kendrick Bourne on a deep crosser, an easy grab for trailing safety Adrian Colbert. Newton’s
• Top targets in team drills: Jakobi Meyers (5/7), N’Keal Harry (6/6), Kendrick Bourne (4/7), James White (4/4), Hunter Henry (2/4).
• Drops: Jonnu Smith, Sony Michel, Rhamondre Stevenson.
• Michel continues to display better burst and long speed than he did last season. He led off multiple periods in the backfield.
• Damien Harris runs every hand-off in walkthrough periods into the end zone, sometimes covering 50 yards by himself.
• Kristian Wilkerson took snaps with the starting offense ahead of Gunner Olszewski. Wilkerson remains a sleeper candidate to make the final 53.
• Quiet day for Nelson Agholor, whose only target in team drills fell incomplete.
• The Patriots are getting increasingly creative with Jonnu Smith’s usage.
• Backup tight end Troy Fumagalli has cooled off considerably in recent days, with lesser blocking skills and fewer targets compared to his other tight ends.
• The Pats ran a few snaps with three tight ends on the field at once, a problematic package for defense given two of the three — Smith and Henry — are legitimate receiving threats and capable blockers.
• Left tackle Isaiah Wynn took a lap for a false start penalty in 11-on-11s. Justin Herron served as the backup at left and right tackle.
• Marcus Martin was the first offensive lineman to sub in during team drills, replacing Shaq Mason at right guard.

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.
• Would-be sacks: Judon 2, Wise, Anfernee Jennings.
• Interceptions: Jackson, McCourty, Colbert.
• Pass breakups: Jackson, Jones, Bryant.
• Anderson returned after suffering an apparent shoulder injury Monday. He was a full participant.
• Rookie defensive tackle Christian Barmore, who had both feet re-taped at the end of Tuesday, also returned.
• The defense was whistled twice for defensive holding in team drills. One would have wiped out Jennings’ sack off the edge. It was unclear who committed the penalties downfield.
• Jones can’t seem to get ahold of Meyers in team drills, again surrendering multiple catches to the young wideout.
• The Pats dropped two safeties into the box during one team period, another sign of the defense’s immense versatility.

Special teams

• Kick returners: Brandon Bolden, J.J. Taylor, Marvin Hall. Gunner Olszewski was an upback.

Odds and ends

• Referee Clete Blakeman and his crew were again on-hand to officiate competitive team periods.
• Vanderbilt baseball coach Tim Corbin visited with Belichick throughout practice.

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