Patriots-Eagles joint practice was a complete success. I liked that both teams are strong and good foils for the other. It feels the team can learn more from these past two sessions than it will when the teams face off Saturday night for their preseason Week 2 matchup.
Another positive was seeing the controlled feistiness from both sides. Players push a play too far and teammates respond, but within reason – short of a brawl and the ensuing fines, which would turn into costly penalties in a real game. Controlled aggression is a good thing to see from your team. The competitiveness is there, plus the willingness to improve is always a good sign. At this point, that’s really what I’m looking for in this roster-building stage. Here’s to an injury-free game on Saturday. We’ll see which “bubbles” rise to the top.
Advertisement
TEAM TALK
Evan Lazar shares 17 takeaways from Drake Maye and the Patriots offense from joint practices. QB Drake Maye was mostly sharp when you combine the two days of joint practices; Although pass protection was solid, the Pats run game was more of a grind…; More. /Worth the read.
Exclusive Interview (The Insiders) A.J. Brown talks with Sal Paolantonio after joint practices. (3 min.)
LOCAL LINKS
Alex Barth tells us 7 things to watch when the Patriots face the Eagles in preseason Week 2.
Andrew Callahan tells us everything we saw and learned on Day 2. Play of the Day: Marcus Jones‘ goal-line INT, QB corner, Studs & Duds, Offensive notes, Defensive notes, Special teams; More. /Detailed read.
Alex Barth‘s Camp Notebook: A physical joint practice with the Eagles on Day 20. While there was no full-on ‘fight’ players came together in large scrums and had to be separated multiple times.
Michael Hurley believes the preseason is becoming a complete afterthought, a trend for years now, coinciding with the rise of joint practices.
Lance Reynolds talks with fans at camp who share high expectations for the Pats this year.
NATIONAL NEWS
Diante Lee (The Ringer) The five archetypes of the modern NFL Cornerback: From the man coverage stars to the ball hawks and risk-takers, this is your complete guide to the best players at this important position. Christian Gonzalez included. /Good read.
Mike Clay (ESPN) Ranking the best, worst positional groups for 2026. Patriots: QB 11th, RB 19th, WR 9th, TE 13th, OL 14th, EDGE 25th, Off-ball LB 12th, CB 6th, Safety 2nd, Overall 4th. /This math ain’t mathing.
Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) On grass vs. turf, NFL clings to the injury-rate statistics.
