It was back to practice for the New England Patriots on Sunday, following Thursday’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans.
There are positives and negatives to take away from every game, but the biggest negative for the Patriots was the offensive line struggles. Granted, the starters weren’t in the game, but given the number of injuries the team has suffered along the offensive front, some of the players in the reserve unit could very well become starters when the season begins.
So the health of the offensive line is something to keep an eye on moving forward. Meanwhile, the positives for the Patriots were mostly Malik Cunningham and a strong early defensive effort.
Cole Strange practiced in a limited fashion on Sunday, which was great news for the Patriots. The full list of player absences is as follows:
CB Jonathan Jones
G Mike Onwenu
RB/WR Ty Montgomery
DE Trey Flowers
OL Bill Murray
ST Cody Davis
RB Pierre Strong Jr.
OL Kody Russey
OT Calvin Anderson
This practice was a bit on the softer side with the Patriots working out in helmets and shells. Here are five takeaways from Day 13 of training camp practice.
Malik Cunningham working with the starting offense
Patriots rookie quarterback Malik Cunningham made quite the first impression at last Thursday’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans. When the offense couldn’t move an inch, Cunningham stepped in as the third quarterback behind Bailey Zappe and Trace McSorley and led the unit to its only touchdown of the game.
He was back under center again at Sunday’s practice working with the starting unit in 11-on-11 team drills. His ability to make plays with his legs adds a wrinkle the Patriots didn’t have with any of the other quarterbacks, including projected starter Mac Jones.
That isn’t to suggest the veterans aren’t mobile, but none of them are nearly as explosive of a playmaker in that aspect as Cunningham. Keep in mind, the rookie took limited snaps with the starters, and he was still working out as a receiver as well.
Malik Cunningham's QB reps yesterday were notable for their timing and the personnel around him. No doubt about that.
But he only took five and didn't attempt a pass. Mac Jones took 20. Bailey Zappe 18.
Important context.
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) August 14, 2023
I’m not suggesting he’s suddenly overtaking Jones and Zappe on the depth chart. McSorley, on the other hand, looks like he could be in trouble.
A positional switch could be coming for Riley Reiff
Right tackle Riley Reiff, who was one of the Patriots’ offseason additions to the roster, worked in at right guard on Sunday. Could a change be coming for the 34-year-old offensive lineman?
Reiff has experience playing guard, and given the injuries and struggles along the offensive front, the Patriots might be experimenting with a new line combination. With Reiff kicking back inside to guard, rookie Sidy Sow continued to make his presence felt at tackle. Perhaps Reiff and Sow could be playing meaningful snaps side-by-side.
Malik Cunningham was getting real work at quarterback in the #Patriots first practice since their preseason opener.
Sidy Sow was also working at right tackle. Riley Reiff moved inside to RG.
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) August 13, 2023
Granted, the hope is that starting guard Mike Onwenu returns to give the offensive line the boost it needs to compete in the regular season. After seeing the unit get trampled in the preseason opener, it’s clear they’ll need all of the help they can get.
Christian Gonzalez makes the play of the day
Christian Gonzalez made the play of the day at practice with a leaping interception on a Mac Jones throw intended for wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Up until that point, Jones was lighting things up offensively. That was until Gonzalez decided he’d seen enough and made a play on the ball. The incredible instincts and athleticism of the rookie cornerback really is something to behold.
Christian Gonzalez made an impressing leaping interception on a Mac Jones throw intended for JuJu on a go ball. Gonzalez’s fluidity and body control in coverage is really something else. #Patriots
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) August 13, 2023
The Patriots have wasted little time throwing him right into the fire with potential matchups against Pro Bowl receivers A.J. Brown and Tyreek Hill on the horizon in his first two official NFL games.
Marte Mapu continues to make plays on defense
Christian Gonzalez isn’t the only rookie making noise on the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker Marte Mapu was back in on Sunday, deflecting two Bailey Zappe passes intended for Hunter Henry and Matt Sokol in the red zone.
Nice practice from Marte Mapu. In the red zone, he had two pass breakups in the span of five plays against the Bailey Zappe-led offense. One on a target to Matt Sokol, the next on a target to Hunter Henry.
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) August 13, 2023
Mapu is the sort of player that could step into the defense and give it a considerable boost right out of the gates. He’s a smart and instinctive player with a coveted blend of speed, strong tackling and coverage abilities. The do-everything linebacker the Patriots have been looking for has arrived.
“He has a million questions, and he’s not leaving until he gets every one of them answered,” veteran safety Adrian Phillips said on Mapu, via NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry. “And I love that about him.”
Red zone improvements showing for Patriots offense
One area the Patriots are clearly improving at during training camp has been their work in the red zone.
Keep in mind, this is the same Patriots team that finished dead last in red zone touchdown scoring percentage last season. Some of those struggles carried over earlier in training camp with the offense consistently stalling when the field shortened.
However, on Sunday, Jones was 4-for-4 in a late red zone period, hitting Hunter Henry (twice), Kendrick Bourne and DeVante Parker for touchdowns.
Mac Jones went 4-for-4 in a late red-zone period, with completions to Hunter Henry (2), DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne. Parker’s contested catch in the back corner and Bourne’s whip route were highlights.
Offense a long way from their early camp struggles inside the 20.
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) August 13, 2023
The offensive confidence is clearly growing for a Patriots team that needs to put more points on the board this season. They can’t rely on field goals to get back to the playoffs. The team has to capitalize on opportunities and punch the ball into the end zone.
