FOXBOROUGH – Playing a game against a Carolina Panthers team that didn’t play many, if any, starters Thursday night, wasn’t the best preseason test for the Patriots.
Tuesday’s joint practice session with the Eagles figures to be a better measuring stick.
“We have stuff to clean up every day, but excited to get another team in here, a contending team to come up, and see where we land versus these guys,” Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett said following Thursday’s practice. “I know it will be good work on both sides of the ball. So I’m excited for that.”
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Brissett and rookie Drake Maye each played just one series against Carolina. The team’s top two quarterbacks will be more heavily involved in the lone joint practice against the Eagles, ahead of the Patriots hosting the visitors for preseason Game No. 2 on Thursday night.
What was Brissett hoping to gain from the going at it against the Eagles in a practice setting?
“It gives us a chance to execute our offense against another team and continue our growth,” he said. “We’re building on our foundation that we laid in the spring, and we’ve been able to put a lot of stuff in. Now we just have to stack some days together.”
It’ll be interesting to see how rookie receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in particular, fare in that setting.
As for the Patriots defense, DeMarcus Covington’s unit played well against the Panthers (5 sacks in the 17-3 win), and has also looked good during training camp practices.
Covington, who called the defensive plays for the first time in a game on Thursday, was looking forward to having his defense take on quarterback Jalen Hurts and his assortment of weapons be it running back Saquon Barkle, wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and tight end Dallas Goedert.
“Hopefully we will come out and dominate, work on our fundamentals and techniques and really gel as a team,” Covington said. “We’re looking to just compete as a team and see our guys in matchups against other players. It will be a chance to see who will be able to help us this season.”
Jerod Mayo, speaking Sunday, thinks the change-up will be good.
“I think it’s good to have joint practices that break up the monotony of training camp,” Mayo said. “But hopefully, you continue to see the team gel together and guys taking a step forward.”
