The 2026 NFL training camps have kicked off around the league, and our team reporters are on the ground each day following all the action. The New England Patriots camp is taking place in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Patriots reporter Mike Reiss has the latest intel on standouts, highlights, position battles, depth chart movement, cut decisions and, of course, the quarterback room.
What follows is everything we are seeing and hearing at Patriots camp. We will update this file often. Will Drake Maye start another MVP-like campaign in Year 3? Who are the breakout players to watch, especially for fantasy football? And which players on the roster bubble could make the final 53?
Dive into all the updates and be sure to check back for more information until the first full week of the preseason begins Aug. 13.
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Wednesday, July 29
Defensive line, now the spotlight shines brighter on you.
When the Patriots return from Wednesday's day off for what is expected to be the first full-pads practice of training camp Thursday, it will be a chance to better assess if the position can be the backbone of the defense.
"Our goal is to set the tone every time we're out here. The whole defense follows the defensive line," sixth-year veteran Christian Barmore said. "Our goal is to dominate."
Defensive linemen can fine-tune technique and hand placement in non-padded practices -- and passionate position coach Clint McMillan demands it -- but the ability to play with power and proper pad level is best assessed in full-pads practices.
Here's what the depth chart has looked like through the first four non-padded practices:
Milton Williams (6-foot-3, 290 pounds) and Barmore (6-5, 315) have usually been the first two DTs on the field, and when the package calls for a third option to provide more sturdiness up front, Cory Durden (6-4, 305) gets the call in the role previously held by Khyiris Tonga (signed with Chiefs in free agency).
"He's a big guy, but he's athletic and smooth as well," Williams said of the energetic Durden (39.9% of the defensive snaps in 2025). "We're going to miss Tonga -- he was that big guy we had - but Cory is stepping in trying to fill that void."
When the Patriots go to the second unit, 2025 fourth-round pick Joshua Farmer (6-3, 312) and former practice-squad player Leonard Taylor III (6-3, 305) usually align at DT, with 2025 waiver-claim Eric Gregory (6-3, 319) in the Durden-Tonga type role.
Linebacker K.J. Britt, who is in his first season in New England after previously playing for the Buccaneers (2021-2024) and Dolphins (2025), believes there's potential for something special on defense.
"It all starts with the defensive line. We have a crazy defensive front and a very good group of edge guys," he said. "As long as those guys are wreaking havoc, it doesn't matter what we do on the back end, it's going to be scary for anybody."
More observations:
CB Christian Gonzalez has been a full participant in practice as his representatives negotiate a contract extension. Asked if that might change in full-pads practice, Gonzalez said, "I'll be out there."
Kicker Andy Borregales is 11-of-12 on field-goal attempts to this point. The one miss, on Tuesday, came after what appeared to be a low snap.
WR Mack Hollins is often the last player to leave the field, staying as long as an hour after practice to sign autographs for fans. "I have two hours off [after practices] ... and they are out here for two, three hours -- some at 6:30, 7:30 when I drive in in the morning they're already lined up," Hollins said. "So, I can go sign autographs."
Tuesday, July 28
Pro Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez had a straightforward message regarding his ongoing contract extension talks with the Patriots: He won't be negotiating through the media.
Gonzalez spoke with reporters Tuesday for the first time since training camp began Saturday, the day owner Robert Kraft said the club offered him a deal that would make him the NFL's highest-paid cornerback and highest-paid player in franchise history.
His reaction?
"Everybody knows what Mr. Kraft has done. A ton of respect for Mr. Kraft and what he's done with this franchise. It's just something we don't want handle to the media. We want to keep that with the team, my team, and go on about that," Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez was asked eight other questions relating to contract extension talks. Each time, he gave a variation of the same answer.
"I want to keep that between my agents and the front office and let them handle that," he said.
Asked if he's optimistic an extension will happen, he said, "I hope so."
Gonzalez was more verbose when asked questions specific to football and his full participation in practice, and one point he highlighted was that Tuesday felt different.
"We're building that chemistry. That's something we've been talking about a lot, because that's going to bring us together and help us get through tough games, get through tough practices -- like today. Today, to me, felt like the first real training camp practice," he said, referencing warmer and more humid temperatures and a faster pace.
Gonzalez said the team's Super Bowl loss to the Seahawks has motivated him.
"We had a tough ending to the year. That sits on everyone's mind all year. I just want to get on the field and do what I do."
More observations:
Starting CB Carlton Davis III appeared to injure a hamstring and didn't finish practice. His replacement, Charles Woods, was helped off the field by two staffers and also didn't finish practice in what might have been a heat-related situation.
WR Kayshon Boutte made his third big downfield catch in three non-walk-through practices, this time catching a long-bomb TD down the middle of the field from QB Drake Maye. Boutte made the catch right near the goal line as safety Kevin Byard was the closest defender at the time he made the catch.
TE Hunter Henry's tight-window catch from Maye was another offensive highlight, once again with Byard in coverage. It was a reminder of the chemistry Maye and Henry have already developed in recent years.
Still waiting on the Maye-to-A.J. Brown fireworks. There were two downfield incompletions when Maye looked in Brown's direction, which reflected how the two are still working to get on the same page.
Second-round pick Gabe Jacas (non-football injury list) came to watch practice about midway through and stood out with his long red sleeves -- a look former Patriot Matthew Judon made popular.
Patriots Hall of Famer Dante Scarnecchia, the longtime former offensive line coach, was among the alumni on hand to sign autographs.
CB Christian Gonzalez arrives and answers an initial question on his contract status, and Robert Kraft's remarks on the team's offer. pic.twitter.com/tVVFnjNmj8
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 28, 2026
Monday, July 27
The last time outside linebacker Bradyn Swinson was in the headlines, it was for landing on the ground along with quarterback Drake Maye in a hold-your-breath type moment.
That was during the final day of mandatory minicamp in June. Immediately after the play, perhaps sensing that the outlook for the Patriots' season could have changed in an instant had Maye been injured, coach Mike Vrabel called players together and ended the practice earlier than expected.
Fast-forward to Monday, the third day of Patriots training camp, and Swinson was back in the headlines for a different reason -- as one of six players to visit the media/interview tent because of an intriguing opportunity ahead of him.
If things go according to his plans, the 2025 fifth-round pick will be terrorizing opposing quarterbacks this season as a key cog of an edge group that is one of the Patriots' unsettled positions. At the same time, he won't be in the same ZIP code as Maye ever again.
"It wasn't a knockdown," Swinson said when asked about the play. "I know [media reports] made it sound like I tackled him, but I literally fell behind him. I helped Drake right up. Accidents happen.
"You have to learn the lesson -- just stay away from the moneymaker, Drake Maye."
The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Swinson, who spent 13 weeks on the practice squad last season before a late-year promotion to the active roster, has been bumped up the depth chart early in training camp with veteran Harold Landry III (physically unable to perform list) and 2026 second-round pick Gabe Jacas (non-football injury list) not cleared to practice (knee).
Swinson said he has been buoyed by a more nutritious diet after tipping the scales around 270 pounds last season.
"I started eating plantains, and I never thought I'd eat plantains," he cracked. "I lost a lot of weight, got a lot stronger, and I like looking in the mirror now. It looks good when you have a couple abs."
More observations:
OT Will Campbell, OLB Elijah Ponder, WR Kyle Williams and C Jared Wilson were named offseason award winners, according to Vrabel.
Seventh-year FB Reggie Gilliam returned to practice Monday after not being present Sunday, with Vrabel saying it was tied to a planned maintenance schedule and something that could continue at times in training camp.
Monday was a slower-paced walk-through, an approach Vrabel also took at times in 2025. "This is something that we feel like can help us be able to learn," he said, adding that players will need to show they can "still act like a professional football team, and take care of the details and some of the technique, but just at a different pace."
Scene setter: FB Reggie Gilliam, in his first season with the Patriots after playing six years for the Bills, is the last player on the field after practice as he stays late to sign autographs. pic.twitter.com/PR69J54OYU
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 27, 2026
Sunday, July 26
Don't forget about Kayshon Boutte.
In a crowded Patriots wide receiver room, which includes trade acquisition A.J. Brown and big-money free agent signing Romeo Doubs, it was Boutte who delivered highlight plays each of the first two days of training camp.
On Sunday, Boutte corralled a back-shoulder throw from QB Drake Maye despite being tightly covered by CB Carlton Davis III. That came a day after Boutte got behind the defense to snare a diving 40-yard reception.
In a post-practice interview, veteran safety Kevin Byard highlighted Boutte's knack for making plays down the field.
Meanwhile, veteran Mack Hollins noted the deep WR room headlined by Brown, Doubs, Boutte, Kyle Williams, Pop Douglas and Efton Chism III and said of Boutte: "It's exciting to see that -- he makes plays when the ball comes his way. I think that's what makes a great receiver room -- guys just want to make plays when their name is called. They don't need anything other than that; they don't need any extra shine, they don't need any extra motivation. It's just, 'I'm a ballplayer, I line up and make a play.'"
More observations:
On a day the defense had the upper hand, second-year safety Craig Woodson registered the first INT of training camp, picking off a high Maye pass intended for Brown.
FB Reggie Gilliam was not spotted on the field after participating in the team's opening practice, while OLB Gabe Jacas, the second-round pick from Illinois who officially signed his contract Sunday, also did not practice. Coach Mike Vrabel hinted the team would take it slow with Jacas.
CB Christian Gonzalez was once again a full participant as he and the team remain engaged in contract negotiations.
With starting right tackle Morgan Moses limited as part of what appeared be an overall management plan to keep him fresh, first-round pick Caleb Lomu stepped in as the top right tackle.
Lomu and fellow rookie offensive lineman Dametrious Crownover circled the field and waved their arms to get a rise out of the crowd early, which added to the energy in practice. There might have been a bit of rookie ribbing from teammates involved.
Andy Borregales was 6-of-6 on FG attempts.
Patriots alums Christian Fauria, Jonas Gray and Joe Andruzzi were among those in attendance signing autographs for fans.
Saturday, July 25
When QB Drake Maye arrived at the interview podium following Saturday's opening practice, he smiled and said to reporters: "All right! We're back!"
It was a perfect New England morning, with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70s, which filled the bleachers and hillside with a standing-room-only crowd.
"It was great to be back out here. Shoutout to the fans," Maye said. "I thought the guys had some energy."
Maye shared that his hope was to start off with fireworks, so he targeted WR A.J. Brown in the first play of full-team drills. But the pass was incomplete, with Pro Bowl CB Christian Gonzalez in coverage.
"I think I had to -- one-on-one over there with Gonzo," Maye said with a smile. "I tried to start off camp with a bang, but I have to make a better throw for him."
Maye finished 6-of-9 in full-team drills. The highlight play was a deep ball to WR Kayshon Boutte, who got behind the defense and dove to haul in the 35-yard pass.
🔟 pic.twitter.com/XM9qSuhnh6
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 25, 2026
More observations from the day:
Veteran WR DeAndre Hopkins, who is a guest of the team as he works with the offensive coaching staff, created disruption for receivers in a low-tempo drill as they had to catch the ball with him creating a distraction.
WR Mack Hollins, barefoot and without a shirt on, was the final player to leave the field after signing autographs. As he ran back to the locker room, he shouted playfully in the direction of reporters, "We're going back to camp! Let's go to work!"
Owner Robert Kraft and his wife, Dana, hosted the second annual "Pawtriots" dog adoption event, which had players arriving to the practice field with dogs and pairing them up with their new families.
RB James White, who played for the team from 2014 to 2021, was an alumni guest and signed autographs for fans.
OLB Gabe Jacas, the second-round pick from Illinois, agreed to terms Saturday, according to a source close to the negotiation. He hadn't been with the team since rookie minicamp May 7-10.
Friday, July 24
On the day the New England Patriots officially reported for training camp, they were joined by veteran free agent receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who for now is exchanging his playing helmet for coaching gear.
Coach Mike Vrabel and Hopkins have a connection from their time together with the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans.
"DeAndre Hopkins is here with us, just to kind of check things out as far as what he wants to do as far as coaching. You'll see him on the field, whether that's [coaching or] personnel," Vrabel said in his opening news conference.
"Him and I talked, and he asked if he could hang out for a couple days and be around the coaches and be around the personnel department. I called the league and made sure that was going to be OK, and then I invited him back. That's where he's been the last couple days, and he'll be here for the next couple days."
Hopkins, 34, played for the Baltimore Ravens last season. He appeared in 17 games and totaled 22 receptions for 330 yards and two touchdowns.
Over his 13-year career, he has amassed 1,006 receptions for 13,295 yards and 85 touchdowns.
"Unbelievable player," sixth-year Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones said. "The expertise is much respected by everyone in the DB role, so having him in the building means a lot. That's a guy, whenever we have questions, we can actually ask them and learn about the knowledge of how guys think about running routes and also being a receiver."
The Patriots have a crowded receiver room headlined by A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, DeMario "Pop" Douglas and Efton Chism III, and Vrabel made it clear Hopkins wasn't with the team in a playing capacity.
"He has coaching gear on and is helping out the offensive coaches, meeting with our personnel guys," Vrabel said. "He loves football. People that love football that played the game for the length of time he did; wants to explore the opportunities and what that looks like after his playing career is over."