In the preseason, Thornton caught three passes for 22 yards and a touchdown. Whether the second-round rookie is activated in time for Sunday’s game against Detroit will depend on his recovery and practice performance. Thornton is eligible to come off injured reserve this week after missing the first four games of the season while on IR. THORNTON AT PRACTICE: Patriots wide receiver Tyquan Thornton appeared at his first practice since breaking his collarbone in preseason and wore a red non-contact jersey. The Patriots got creative at the tight end position after Smith left Sunday’s game, lining up veteran tackle Marcus Cannon as a jumbo tight end and also using receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey as a blocker. Meanwhile, Matt Sokol remains an option to promote or elevate from the practice squad. This leaves the Patriots shorthanded at tight end, with Hunter Henry the only other active tight end on the 53-man roster. Smith left Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers because of an ankle injury and did not return. SMITH OUT: Tight end Jonnu Smith is reportedly set to miss some time after being diagnosed with a low ankle sprain that is expected to have him week-to-week. He’s been added while the top two quarterbacks – Jones (high ankle sprain) and Hoyer (concussion) – deal with injuries that are likely to keep them out of Sunday’s game versus Detroit.Ĭollins wore No. Gilbert went 21 of 30 for 194 yards in that start. Gilbert spent most of the 2021 season on the Patriots’ practice squad until Washington signed him away to make a spot start in December. He totaled 20 tackles, two pass breakups, an interception and one sack. Last year, Collins appeared in 10 games and made two starts for the Patriots after signing midseason. According to Bill Belichick, Collins also underwent offseason surgery. The 32-year-old had been out of football since his contract with the Patriots expired after the 2021 season. NEW FACES: The Patriots fielded two new, yet familiar, faces at practice Wednesday, with linebacker Jamie Collins and quarterback Garrett Gilbert joining the practice squad.Ĭollins reached terms less than 24 hours after the team’s loss at Green Bay, when the Patriots allowed a season-worst 199 rushing yards. Being able to calm myself down and just continuing to focus on my job and what my job is at the end.” “There are some things that I’ve learned from just my fundamentals.

Zappe said the lessons he learned just from being on the field last week are immeasurable. “I thought they did a good job with him of just trying to get him settled in and being smart and not putting him in a bind, continue to run the football, do things to get the ball out, and then a little play-action,” Campbell said. Lions Coach Dan Campbell coached Zappe during the 2022 Senior Bowl and said he exhibited same kind of poise then that he did coming off the bench last week for the Patriots. Just continuing to get reps before and after practice.” Continuing to work with the comfortability with it. “That goes a lot working with my teammates, working with the coaches. “A lot more comfortable than I was about a year ago,” he said. Zappe is still adjusting to taking snaps under center, something he didn’t do much in Western Kentucky’s shotgun-based system. We’re just trying to be the best for the team.” Same for me, I’ve been doing everything I can to try and help him out with everything going on. That includes Jones, whom he said has been a good resource. In the meantime, Zappe said he is leaning on the relationships he’s been building with teammates since he was drafted. “In terms of preparation – like snaps, we’ll see. “He had the whole week for preparation last week,” Belichick said. He acknowledged Zappe will benefit from having extra practice time. Belichick said the coaching staff is still in a “day-to-day” mode regarding who will start this week.

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