How Wideouts Regarded As Brandon Aiyuk Rumors Swirl

FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots reportedly try to enhance their extensive receiver room.

New England has a commerce framework the San Francisco 49ers have agreed to and the Patriots have supplied a contract extension proposal to Brandon Aiyuk’s camp, as first reported Monday evening by NBC Sports activities Bay Space’s Matt Maiocco.

When the Patriots took the follow fields for Day 11 of coaching camp at Gillette Stadium, it was simple to see why.

New England’s extensive receivers confirmed flashes, as they’ve beforehand, however the group hasn’t been constant. They have not seemed like surefire, confirmed contributors. And there is not any debating a participant of Aiyuk’s caliber would assist in that space.

Rookie Javon Baker impressed once more Tuesday with a highlight-reel landing seize from Jacoby Brissett. It was the play of the day. Baker beat prime cornerback Christian Gonzalez for the catch in purple zone 11-on-11s. Great things, proper? Certain.

However Baker additionally had a ball bounce off his fingers throughout Drake Maye’s hurry-up interval, and it led to an interception by rookie cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr. Baker, a fourth-round receiver, adopted that up by letting Maye’s subsequent throw undergo his grasp.

Jalen Reagor stacked one other day, too.

Reagor, who entered camp on the roster bubble, made a powerful toe-tapping catch on a ball from Brissett throughout purple zone 7-on-7s. He then caught three of Maye’s 4 completions throughout an 11-on-11 interval through which the rookie quarterback led the offense into the purple zone. Reagor did so on a collection of quick curls and intermediate catches. He is had a powerful begin to camp.

That is excellent news, little question. However it nonetheless looks like Reagor is competing for a depth spot, maybe because the fifth or sixth receiver with Kayshon Boutte, Tyquan Thornton and JuJu Smith-Schuster. His presence doesn’t suggest the Patriots ought to cross on Aiyuk.

Neither does the presence of veteran Okay.J. Osborn, who climbed the ladder for a pleasant catch on a Brissett deep ball in an 11-on-11 interval. Neither does the presence of shifty slot man DeMario Douglas, who shook a defender out of his footwear throughout a purple space 7-on-7 interval. Douglas might argue the cross from Maye would have went for a landing.

However there have been struggles and inconsistencies, too. Smith-Schuster dropped a cross from Maye proper after Baker did. The offense fumbled the ball a handful of instances and allowed a number of sacks once more. These have been on show all through camp simply as a lot as, and maybe even greater than, the highlights.

These performs doubtless have the Patriots believing they need to enhance the offense.

“From Eliot and my perspective, we’re all the time attempting to get higher, it doesn’t matter what place we’re speaking about, regardless of how these guys get right here, whether or not it is by cuts or by trades or no matter, we’re all the time trying to enhance our crew and win now,” Jerod Mayo stated earlier than follow.

The Patriots might achieve this by including Aiyuk, who will in the end make the choice.

Listed below are extra observations from Day 11:

— It was a stable displaying from Drake Maye. Maye went 8-for-14 throughout aggressive intervals with an interception, sack and two drops.

Maye impressed throughout purple zone 7-on-7s, which included two perfectly-places fades on the pylon to Kayshon Boutte and Jaheim Bell.

— Brissett obtained extra aggressive reps than Maye and the remainder of the quarterbacks Tuesday, together with 9 in the course of the preliminary 11-on-11 interval. Maye and Bailey Zappe every obtained three throughout that portion. Brissett was 14-for-23 throughout aggressive intervals.

He additionally had a fumbled snap and was sacked thrice.

Brissett performed behind an offensive line consisting of, from left to proper, Vederian Lowe, Michael Jordan, David Andrews, Mike Onwenu and Calvin Anderson. Sidy Sow, who performed left guard with that group all through the earlier 10 practices, didn’t take part in aggressive intervals.

Whereas chatting with reporters after follow, Anderson stated Sow is doing high-quality.

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— Matthew Judon was not a full participant. Judon took half in stretching however briefly walked off the sector throughout the person intervals. Judon returned to the sector and talked to Patriots employees members, however didn’t put on a helmet or take part in aggressive intervals.

— Kendrick Bourne, who’s on the bodily unable to carry out record, was not on the sector when Patriots gamers went by their stretching interval. It was noteworthy provided that Bourne was included in commerce reviews centered round Aiyuk.

Bourne did come out to the follow area afterward, although. He wore a hoodie and shorts, seemingly after a exercise contained in the stadium.

— Joshua Uche was not a full participant both. Uche labored on a separate area at the beginning of follow — he was down there with Marcus Jones. Uche was again on the follow fields afterward within the session, however didn’t take part in aggressive drills.

— Tyquan Thornton stated he is been restricted as a result of a tender tissue harm.

— The Patriots once more ended follow with a area aim competitors. Chad Ryland went 4-for-5 with a miss from 53 yards whereas Joey Slye went 3-for-4 with a miss from 49 yards.

— New England will host its first preseason recreation towards the Carolina Panthers on Thursday evening. Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo stated earlier than follow that each one wholesome gamers are anticipated to play. The Patriots plan for Jacoby Brissett to begin and Drake Maye to play, together with Joe Milton III and Bailey Zappe, however Mayo didn’t understand how a lot they’d play.