Patriots Camp Report 08.17.23: New England answers back with strong 2nd practice; injuries mount

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Practice No. 16 is in the books from Lambeau Field, let's run down all you need to know from a long and padded joint practice: 

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Patriots answer back in skirmish-marred practice: After mostly losing the first day to the Packers as the Patriots gave up big plays and couldn't make any of their own, New England was the much better and more physical team in this one — and they were not afraid to let the Packers know about it. Jordan Love couldn't make much happen and was erratic. Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe were sharp both in the red zone and end-of-game situations.

I said this after the first practice:

"The good news is that the Patriots always rebound on Day 2. They go back and watch the film, get reamed out by coaches, and bring it on Day 2. So it's there, I just don't understand why it takes so long. I looked forward to the Patriots being better on Thursday.

The Patriots were pretty physical on defense overall, so I would expect the Packers' offense to come out and try to be physical. Could lead to some fights."

Check ... and double check.

Almost immediately, the Packers' offense tried to assert themselves physically and almost every other play had a skirmish to the point that Bill Belichick had to come over from the offensive field to attempt to settle things down by talking to the Patriots defense. Didn't really help.

Malik Heath, who talked all sorts of trash on Day 1, got into with Marcus Jones.

Henry Pearson’s helmet got knocked off ... Keion White later threw Isiah McDuffie's helmet at the end of a special teams drill.

The big skirmish happened when Packers linebacker Keshawn Banks took a swing at White, and then Anfernee Jennings threw a body check on Banks. Jennings was ejected. The Patriots sideline wanted Banks gone too but the officials didn't see it. 

Jabrill Peppers was basically the leader of the trash talk from the Patriots sidelines. All practice and non-stop.

Patriots flipped the script: New England couldn't make any big plays offensively and gave up too many on Day 1. Today, New England made a handful of big plays and the Packers didn't do much down the field.

Big plays:

• Mac Jones deep down right sideline to Tyquan Thornton.
• Bailey Zappe deep TD to Tre Nixon. 
• Jones capped his got-to-have it drive with a bomb to DeVante Parker over Rasul Douglas. Patriots went wild, including Jones in the middle of the field.
• Zappe to Malik Cunningham down to the 2-yard line on 3rd and 6 with 25 seconds left. On the next play and with 16 seconds left, Zappe hit Boutte at the near right pylon for the TD.

Ezekiel Elliott gets involved: After having an intra-team period where the aim seemed to be just to get Elliott up to speed with plays for him out of the backfield, the newest Patriots got involved as a third-down back with both quarterbacks. And Elliott was not shy about talking trash and jumping into the physical nature of this practice with his new teammates. Even scored a touchdown — the ball did come out, Packers thought it was a fumble — on the goaline.

TAKING ATTENDANCE

Physically unable to perform list: OG Mike Onwenu, ST Cody Davis, DE Trey Flowers
Non-football injury list: OT Calvin Anderson.
Red non-contact jerseys: None.
Returned to practice: None.
Full participant: OG Bill Murray.
Out: TE Mike Gesicki (right arm/shoulder), RB Ty Montgomery, CB Jon Jones, DE Ronnie Perkins, RB Pierre Strong, G/C Kody Russey (left leg), LG Cole Strange (left knee), OT Conor McDermott.
Limited: None.
New injuries: Keion White (left ankle) returned to sideline but not action. Jake Andrews and Tyquan Tornton left practice.

DRESS CODE

Full pads.

LENGTH OF PRACTICE

2 hours under sunny skies.

QB STATS

Mac Jones: 15 of 19, 3 TDs, 4 sacks

1 of 2
4 of 5
Red zone: 3 of 4, sack, 2 TDs (Bourne, Parker)
3 of 4, 2 sacks
1:40 left, 2 TOs, need TD: 4 of 4, sack, TD (40 yards to Parker)

Bailey Zappe: 15 of 23, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, 4 sacks

1-1, sack
Red zone: 2 of 3, 2 sacks, 2 TDs (Boutte, Parker)
5 of 7, 2 INTs, TD deep to Tre Nixon against Kiondre Thomas), 2 sacks/holds
1:40 left, 2 TOs, need TD: 7 of 12, TD (Boutte at pylon from 2 yards out)

HANDS

Fumble: Elliott (maybe)
Drop: Lumpkin
Pass breakups: Adrian Phillips. Isaiah Bolden, Joshuah Bledsoe, Jack Jones, Jahlani Tavai, J'Whaun Bentley. Christian Gonzalez.
INT: Kyle Dugger (Love), Marcus Jones (Love)
TDs: Parker 3, Boutte, Nixon, Bourne.
Sacks: Marte Mapu, Bentley, Pharms, Team.

SHANK IT OFF

Corliss Waitman 4.43 average hangtime ... nothing below 4.27.

Bryce Baringer 4.02 ... two touchbacks and one that was 3.83 that was just bad.

TOP PLAYS

• Christian Gonzalez had a great end zone breakup of a Love pass to Dontayvion Wicks.
• Jones' bombs to Parker and Thornton.
• Zappe's throw and Boutte's catch at the right pylon for a TD.

FOUR UP

Mac Jones: One of his best practices with the Patriots. He was decisive and found a way to make some big plays.

DeVante Parker: Was probably the best offensive player the past two days, including three TDs today.

Kayshon Boutte: Showed well again and his clutch TD at the pylon will only enhance his standing.

Ja'Whaun Bentley: Was in the middle of all the physical play and seems to come free on blitzes a lot. Had a sack and pass breakup.

ONE DOWN

Bryce Baringer: Baringer's slump continues. He's been the lesser kicker for about the last week plus. Waitman got the first three punts today.

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