FOXBORO — Here comes the calvary.
Patriots tight end Mike Gesicki returned to practice Tuesday after missing eight days with a hurt shoulder. On a day where players wore shells and shorts, Gesicki participated in positional drills and team periods, but was not contacted and didn’t catch a pass during 11-on-11s. He did, however, run well and otherwise look unbothered by his injury.
Three other players also returned to practice: running back/wide receiver Ty Montgomery (left leg), running back Pierre Strong (reported concussion) and linebacker Ronnie Perkins. Montgomery ran through positional drills for the first time since the second day of training camp. Perkins earned a sack in his return.
Elsewhere, JuJu Smith-Schuster inhaled targets, Mac Jones spoiled his hot start with an interception, two rookies saw brief promotions and Ezekiel Elliott keeps adding more onto his plate.
Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations.
Returned: TE Mike Gesicki, RB/WR Ty Montgomery, RB Pierre Strong, OLB Ronnie Perkins
Absent: DB Jonathan Jones, OL Cole Strange, WR Tyquan Thornton, OL Kody Russey, CB Isaiah Bolden
Limited: DL Keion White, WR Demario Douglas, Montgomery
PUP: OL Mike Onwenu, S Cody Davis, DL Trey Flowers
Non-Football Illness: OT Calvin Anderson
Notes: Montgomery and Douglas participated in positional drills, then left to condition on a separate field. Tuesday’s practice was the first where Montgomery participated in almost a full month. Strong
White left for an upper field midway through practices for reasons unknown. He participated in positional drills and team periods before walking away with a staffer. Thornton was injured during a joint practice Thursday at Green Bay and hasn’t been seen since. Bolden remains in concussion protocol.
Will he play safety? Nickelback? Maybe even … outside corner?
Whatever position Myles Bryant finds himself in this season, he’ll be hoping to replicate the success he had in Tuesday’s practice. Trailing JuJu Smith-Schuster on a left-to-right crossing route during a 2-minute drill, Bryant jumped Mac Jones’ off-target pass and snatched an interception. With no one out ahead of him, Bryant flew up the right sideline for a would-be pick-six.
One snap before his interception, Bryant broke up a pass intended for tight end Hunter Henry. His two pass breakups led all defenders in team drills. Bryant continues to play all across Bill Belichick’s secondary, and built on a strong camp.
Mac Jones has made one significant change in Patriots training camp this year
Note: The passing stats below were tallied during competitive 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 periods only. The stats in parentheses represent the quarterbacks' camp-long performance.
Six catches from Mac Jones in team drills.. That's what a No. 1 receiver looks like.
Mapu continued to fulfill his range of duties at multiple positions across multiple defensive units. Amid all his shuffling back and forth, he forced a fumble from wide receiver Thyrick Pitts and blanketed tight end Anthony Firkser in coverage, earning a pass breakup. The kid can play.
The sixth-round rookie snared passes from Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, including a touchdown to help close practice. Most impressively, he caught all five targets; two came with Marcus Jones in coverage and another against Jack Jones on a post route.
Ryland went 1-for-4 at the end of practice, including three straight misses from at least 33 yards away. All swung wide left. The last misfire drifted at least 15 yards away from the nearest right. Ryland then booted a short make on his final attempt, as he seemingly remains locked in a position battle with incumbent veteran Nick Folk.
Washington dropped his only target in team drills, likely putting a disappointing end to his quiet training camp.