FOXBORO — Patriots rookie Drake Maye seemingly still hasn’t ascended over Jacoby Brissett or Bailey Zappe on the quarterback depth chart through a week of organized team activities practices, but he’s still putting in the work early in his NFL career.

While Brissett and Zappe met with reporters at podiums on the side of the Patriots’ practice field, Maye and rookie wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker spent extra time after practice continuing to throw and catch, sneaking in extra reps after a two-hour-long practice.

Before Wednesday’s session, head coach Jerod Mayo said Maye, who was the first QB on the field Wednesday, “is taking advantage of the opportunities that he gets” during OTAs.

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The rookie had plenty of them in Wednesday’s practice, but he was still third in line during 11-on-11s behind veterans Brissett and Zappe. The Patriots are making Maye earn his role even if it means taking away meaningful reps with Patriots top pass-catchers and offensive linemen.

Wednesday’s practice saw many notable absences, one rookie wide receiver beginning to ascend and some special guests.

Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations:

Attendance

Absent: OLB Matthew Judon, CB Jonathan Jones, OLB Josh Uche, WR Kendrick Bourne, DT Christian Barmore, DT Davon Godchaux, DT Sam Roberts

Non-participants: LB Sione Takitaki, QB Joe Milton III, LB Jahlani Tavai, OT Zuri Henry, G Sidy Sow, C Jake Andrews, G Cole Strange

Notes: Bourne and Strange are both coming off of knee injuries suffered in 2023. Tavai also had an offseason procedure. Takitaki was in sweats with a wrap on his right leg. Andrews was also in sweats with a wrap on his left leg. Sow was in uniform but didn’t participate after taking first-team reps at left guard last week in OTAs. He also had a wrap on his left leg. Henry, an undrafted free agent, has yet to participate in practice, dating back to rookie minicamp. DraftScout.com notes that he didn’t do his broad jump at his pro day in March because of a hamstring injury. It’s not completely surprising to see veterans like Judon, Jones, Uche, Barmore and Godchaux skipping OTAs, since they’re voluntary sessions.

Play of the Day

Baker’s downfield catch

Baker showed off his playmaking skills, hauling in a downfield throw from Brissett down the sideline by jumping up and over cornerback Marco Wilson to make the grab. Baker, a fourth-round pick out of UCF, was known for having flashes and inconsistent moments during his college career. That’s been the case early in spring practices, as well.

Baker caught another pass with two defenders around him and turned upfield for a touchdown. He was also targeted on an interception thrown by Zappe.

“He made a couple of plays today,” Brissett said after practice. “He’s getting better. Obviously, somebody that we are looking forward to seeing what he can become, and he’s doing a good job of getting better every day and taking the coaching from the meeting room to the field and trying not to make the same mistake twice. Right now, that’s all you can ask for. …

“Good route-runner, good hands, he can go up and make plays like he did today. We’re looking forward just seeing the more he can do.”

Player of the Day

WR Tyquan Thornton

This comes with the caveat that Thornton, known for his speed over his physicality, always seems to stand out before the pads come on. But Thornton was a favorite target of Maye on Wednesday. The rookie’s best throw came on a downfield pass caught by Thornton with safety Kyle Dugger trailing in coverage during 7-on-7s. Thornton caught four passes on the day — three from Maye and one from Brissett.

Thornton, a 2022 second-round pick, needs a strong spring and summer to make the Patriots’ 53-man roster. Assuming Bourne, Javon Baker, K.J. Osborne, Ja’Lynn Polk and DeMario Douglas are safe, a potential sixth spot comes down to Thornton, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kayshon Boutte, T.J. Luther, Jalen Reagor and Kawaan Baker.

QB Corner

Note: The passing stats below were tallied during competitive 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 periods only. 

Jacoby Brissett: 6-of-8 in 11-on-11s, 7-of-8 in 7-on-7s

Bailey Zappe: 6-of-9 in 11-on-11s, 4-of-7, INT on 7-on-7s

Drake Maye: 4-of-6 in 11-on-11s, 12-of-14 in 7-on-7s

Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots in-between Bailey Zappe and Jacoby Brissett during practice at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Notes: Maye was third in line behind Brissett and Zappe during an initial 11-on-11 period. Brissett and Zappe then switched off on one field during 7-on-7s while Maye worked on his own field. At the end of practice, Brissett saw first-team reps in 11-on-11s followed by Zappe. Then Brissett went again followed by Maye. Brissett had a strong case for being the player of the day. He was sharp in team and individual drills. He also has a head up on his competition thanks to his experience in offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt’s system. It’s unclear what kept Milton out of practice, but the sixth-round pick’s incredible arm strength was missed as a sideshow for reporters. The rookie has left Zappe impressed. “That guy can throw the rock. It makes me wonder what I didn’t do when I was growing up as far as workouts, but I mean, we’ll do a quarterback competition, I’m sure, as far as throwing the ball.”

Offensive notes

The last OTAs session open to the media came last Monday, which also served as the team’s first overall OTAs practice. The competition was certainly ramped up on Wednesday with more team drills and less back-to-basics fundamentals.
Quarterbacks spent an early period of practice throwing into a net with open targets labeled in blue, white and red. As quarterbacks dropped back, a coach would call out a color, and the quarterback would be expected to throw through that opening. Brissett showed the most accuracy during Wednesday’s practice, though Zappe laughed while saying he was the leader overall this spring. Sometimes coaches would switch it up on rollouts, not calling out a color, and quarterbacks would ultimately dump it off to an assistant serving as a check-down option.
Polk was targeted just once during team drills. The pass came from Brissett during 7-on-7s with Wilson in close coverage.
Sow’s lack of participation saw some reshuffling on the offensive line. Atonio Mafi and veteran guard Michael Jordan saw an increase in reps.
One of Brissett’s better throws was a downfield pass to Douglas out of the slot early in 11-on-11s.
Chukwuma Okorafor still looks primed for the starting role at left tackle, but rookie Caedan Wallace did see time in the role on Wednesday.

New England Patriots Jarod Mayo during practice at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Defensive notes

The Patriots were shorthanded up front with Barmore, Godchaux and Roberts all absent. Armon Watts, Daniel Ekuale, Trysten Hill and Jeremiah Pharms saw increased action in their absence. Hill and defensive end Deatrich Wise were both in the backfield on what would have been a sack on Brissett in 11-on-11s.
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins picked off Zappe on the target to Baker.
Rookie cornerback Marcellas Dial and second-year pro Isaiah Bolden both registered pass breakups. Safety Marte Mapu nearly picked off Zappe on a throw that was behind rookie tight end Jaheim Bell.
Cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino, who spoke before practice, said that Dial has been doing a great job as the team’s only defensive draft pick. The sixth-rounder impressed Pellegrino and the rest of the team on his 30 visit, and Pellegrino was pumped to see the team draft him.
Pellegrino also noted that cornerback Marcus Jones, whose 2023 season ended prematurely with a torn labrum, has been limited but is helping out in the “second-tier of coaching. Talking to those guys on the side.”
Pellegrino also noted that Bolden and Azizi Hearn, who was on the practice squad in 2023, are new to the Patriots’ “star” or slot position. “They’ve done a great job stepping up and really adapting to that role.”

Special teams

Kicker Chad Ryland was 4-of-5 on field goals to wrap up practice. His competition, Joey Slye, didn’t get any attempts.
Ryland told reporters after practice that he’s “no coward to a challenge.”
With Matthew Slater retired and on the staff in an advisory role, his old gunner role is up for grabs across from Brenden Schooler. Javon Baker, Thornton, Luther, cornerback Mikey Victor, Boutte, cornerback Isaiah Bolden, Kawaan Baker, cornerback Shaun Wade, cornerback Marcellas Dial and Wilson all saw practice reps at gunner.

Kicker, New England Patriots Chad Ryland during practice at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Extra points

Special guests for Wednesday’s practice included former Patriots linebackers coach and current University of Washington defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, retired Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears and retired safety Patrick Chung. Belichick and Chung started practice on bleachers speaking with Fears but came down onto the practice field in the middle of the action.
Belichick was welcome to return to the Patriots’ staff under Mayo before taking the job at Washington. Mayo and Belichick essentially served as co-defensive coordinators in recent seasons with the Patriots.
Owner Robert Kraft was in attendance for much of practice and chatted up both Steve Belichick and current safeties coach Brian Belichick. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones were among players who caught up with Steve Belichick during practice.
It was feeling relatively steamy to start practice, but some cloud coverage cooled off Wednesday’s session.

Patrick Chung, Ivan Fears and Steve Belichick all on hand today to watch practice. pic.twitter.com/zi6WLPr8pi

— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) May 29, 2024