FOXBORO — For the first 45 minutes, the Patriots laid groundwork.

They glided through basic drills; passing, catching and running against air at the start of their first training camp practice, a 90-minute session under heavy clouds. In one drill, Drake Maye lofted a deep spiral for speedy receiver Jalen Reagor down the left sideline. Reagor, defended by no one, caught the ball in stride and cruised to a would-be touchdown.

Together, they had dipped their toes back into football.

Later, they dove in headfirst.

Maye delivered the first practice highlight of his pro career with a 50-yard touchdown to Reagor during a 7-on-7 period Wednesday capped by a spectacular one-handed catch. It was one of two downfield completions for Maye, who otherwise subsisted on checkdowns and completions to receivers running stop and flat routes. He finished 6-of-10 overall in competitive team periods with one sack and a botched snap.

Akin to the spring, Maye was the second quarterback taking reps after Jacoby Brissett. The veteran stopgap recovered from a woeful interception on his third rep of 11-on-11s and showed the steady hand the Patriots are counting on to guide them through the early part of the season.

Elsewhere, a starting receiver missed team periods, the offensive line moved a key piece, a veteran defensive back notched two pass breakups and good news arrived on the contract front.

Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations.

Attendance

Absent: None

Limited: WR DeMario Douglas, CB Shaun Wade

Non-contact jersey: N/A

PUP: WR Kendrick Bourne, LB Sione Takitaki, OL Cole Strange, C/G Jake Andrews

Non-Football Injury: RB Antonio Gibson

Notes: Only the players the Patriots placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) and Non-Football Injury (NFI) lists Tuesday were absent Wednesday. Gibson, according to head coach Jerod Mayo, is expected to return “relatively soon.”

Patriots wide receivers DeMario Douglas, left, and JuJu Smith-Schuster watch as Ja’Lynn Polk does push-ups during training camp in Foxboro. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

As for Douglas, he missed all 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 periods for reasons unknown. He stood between the two practice fields with his hands on his head and stood next to a staffer, then paced down the sideline next to a crowd of defensive teammates. His status moving forward is unclear.

Matthew Judon and Davon Godchaux were full participants, despite ongoing contract disputes and the concern one or both might hold in as a protest.

Play of the Day

Regaor’s touchdown

The next step for Maye will be taking these touchdowns to 11-on-11s and against a starting defense (backup corner Azizi Hearn was in coverage against Reagor).

If Maye can do that, he will be a few steps closer to the starting job.

Player of the Day

CB Jonathan Jones

Remember him?

The elder statesman of the Patr

Patriots defensive back Jonathan Jones speaks to the media Tuesday. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

iots’ secondary was back at full strength after missing a handful of games last season when he failed to grab an interception. It took Jones all of three snaps to force a turnover Wednesday, deflecting a late, cross-field pass from Brissett intended for K.J. Osborn on a broken play. That pass found Kyle Dugger for a pick.

Later, Jones boxed out second-round rookie Ja’Lynn Polk on the sideline for another pass breakup during 7-on-7s.

QB Corner

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

Jacoby Brissett: 10-of-13, INT

Drake Maye: 6-of-10 (sack)

Bailey Zappe: 3-of-5

Joe Milton: 3-of-3

Notes: Brissett saved his worst for first, making an ill-advised heave back left across his body and the field on his second dropback of the Pats’ initial team drill, a brief 11-on-11 period.

After that, Brissett looked like the starter he’s been named, sprinkling in safe completions around a pinpoint, 20-yard seam throw to tight end Austin Hooper and wheel-route throw to Rhamondre Stevenson in stride. He finished 5-of-7 in full-team periods, compared to Maye’s 2-of-4 showing. For a full accounting of the quarterbacks’ practice performance, read the Herald’s separate story on Brissett and Maye’s day.

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Studs

WR Jalen Reagor

Reagor caught both of the Patriots’ longest completions in practice and added another catch on a curl route. He also rotated with the returners, which would boost his value to the team and therefore odds of making the 53-man roster.

CB Marcellas Dial Jr.

The sixth-round rookie didn’t allow a catch on three targets in team drills, and executed picture-perfect double coverage with safety Jaylinn Hawkins to force a deep incompletion intended for Ja’Lynn Polk. For someone who missed most of the spring due to injury, Dial looked like a seasoned vet who put in extra time.

Patriots rookie cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr. walks onto the field during training camp in Foxboro. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Duds

CB Azizi Hearn

Tough day for the backup corner. Reagor beat him twice for long completions, both of which would have been touchdowns. Hearn remains a long shot to make the roster, but at least ended the day on a high note breaking up a pass intended for rookie Javon Baker.

WR K.J. Osborn

His only target in team periods led to Dugger’s interception. If Osborn is to start this season, he’ll need to show more than he has in every media-accessed practice today.

Offensive notes

Running backs

Rhamondre Stevenson led the running backs in all positional and team drills. He showed a natural feel for the Patriots’ new outside zone scheme, taking his final hand-off during team drills for a possible touchdown off the left side.
That scheme will be the foundation of the team’s new offense under Alex Van Pelt, both as a base run and setting up most play-action passes off the same action.
With Antonio Gibson sidelined, Kevin Harris often took the next reps after Stevenson. The 2022 sixth-round pick still looks best suited for a backup role as a power back, and had a drop during one 11-on-11 period.
JaMychal Hasty tied for the team lead with three receptions during team periods. He continues to build momentum – albeit with an entire preseason to go – toward possibly earning a roster spot as a reserve pass-catching back.

Running backs Rhamondre Stevenson (38) and Kevin Harris during training camp in Foxboro. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Wide receivers

Top targets in team drills: Ja’Lynn Polk 2/5, Hasty 3/3, Jalen Reagor 3/3, Javon Baker 1/3, Austin Hooper 2/2, Tyquan Thornton 2/2, Stevenson 2/2
Drops: Harris

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K.J. Osborn, Tyquan Thornton and JuJu Smith-Schuster led off most periods, with Kendrick Bourne (ACL recovery) still sidelined.
Both of Smith-Schuster’s targets came courtesy of Maye, who hit him on a crossing route versus Christian Gonzalez to complete a play-action bootleg pass. Smith-Schuster and Maye played catch before practice and stayed late after.
Thornton caught both his targets from Brissett, first on an in-breaking route in front of Jabrill Peppers during 7-on-7s and then an out route along the sideline. Thornton diversifying his route tree is critical to his chances of making the team after two disappointing seasons as a deep threat.
Kayshon Boutte finished without a catch, though his only target landed at his feet on one of Maye’s worst misses of the day.
The potential loss of DeMario Douglas bears monitoring. He is their best option over the middle, against the blitz and against man-to-man coverage.

Tight ends

Quiet day for Hunter Henry, who caught his only target in the flat from Brissett. Henry said after practice he’s been most encouraged by Jerod Mayo’s leadership and the veterans’ ability to generate camaraderie in the locker room. He indicated Patriots players are more intentional about bonding this year than past seasons.
Hooper’s seam grab was a highlight of practice, and his other reception also impressed. As Brissett extended a play in 11-on-11s rolling to his right, Hooper plucked a pass just off his shoelaces and fell to the ground with a secure grab.
No targets for seventh-round rookie Jaheim Bell.

Offensive line

Where in the world is Mike Onwenu? For one practice, he was back at right guard, his natural college and pro position. And yet, for most of the offseason Mayo said Onwenu would play right tackle, where he finished last season. Mayo has since pivoted to saying the Patriots will play their five best offensive linemen, prioritizing talent over positional fit.

Patriots wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk, left, and Jalen Reagor learn a new handshake during training camp. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

That message would indicate the Patriots see Calvin Anderson as presently among their best five, most notably over third-round rookie Caedan Wallace and backup guard Nick Leverett, who worked with the top offense most of spring.
With Onwenu at guard, Anderson played right tackle. From left to right, the Pats’ top O-line went Chukwuma Okorafor, Sidy Sow, David Andrews, Onwenu and Anderson.
For stretches, the offensive line that blocked for Drake Maye in team periods consisted of left tackle Vederian Lowe, Sow at left guard, center Nick Leverett, right guard Michael Jordan and right tackle Caedan Wallace.
Leverett and Maye botched a snap during 11-on-11s. Leverett, for one day, replaced 2023 fifth-rounder pick Atonio Mafi as the team’s new experimental backup center, after spending the last three seasons in Tampa Bay playing guard.
With Cole Strange and 2023 fourth-round pick Jake Andrews on the PUP list, the Pats’ depth along the interior O-line is dangerously shallow, particularly at center.

Defensive notes

Starting and second-string personnel during team periods: defensive linemen Christian Barmore, Davon Godchaux, Deatrich Wise, Keion White, Armon Watts, Daniel Ekuale, Trysten Hill and Jeremiah Pharms Jr.; linebackers Matt Judon, Jahlani Tavai, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Raekwon McMillan, Christian Elliss, Joe Giles-Harris, William Bradley-King, Oshane Ximines; defensive backs Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Marte Mapu, Christian Gonzalez, Marco Wilson, Alex Austin, Jaylinn Hawkins, Isaiah Bolden, Joshuah Bledsoe and Marco Wilson
Interceptions: Dugger
Pass breakups: Jonathan Jones 2, Azizi Hearn
Would-be sacks: Team

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Defensive linemen

Unlike spring practices, Davon Godchaux was a hands-on participant during positional drills and started in team periods. He lined up next to Christian Barmore on the first snap of 11-on-11s, with Matthew Judon and Keion White manning the edges.
Behind Godchaux and Barmore, the Patriots are counting on veteran Armon Watts and developmental project Jeremiah Pharms Jr. as run pluggers. Daniel Ekuale, back from a biceps tear, again projects as an interior third-down rusher.
Barmore was in the vicinity of Maye when the rookie took the only “sack” of practice, a delayed scramble when he took off up the middle.

Linebackers

Until Sione Takitaki returns from the PUP list, this starting group will look familiar: Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai leading the way.
Bentley and Tavai were again at the heart of the top group and flashed solid instincts, which keep them closer to the ball in coverage than most players with their size and/or lack of straight-line speed.
Tavai told reporters after practice one of his goals is to play more in dime packages (those with six defensive backs). The Patriots’ most common dime packages involve just one linebacker, though they can play with two and just three defensive linemen.
Among their backups is Raekwon McMillan, who suffered season-ending injuries before the 2021 and 2023 seasons. He is back to 100% participation and health.

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Defensive backs

The Patriots rotated several corners with their top units, including projected star Christian Gonzalez, projected starter Jonathan Jones and Alex Austin. A seventh-round pick last year, Austin impressed with his ball skills and instincts.
But don’t forget about fellow 2023 seventh-rounder Isaiah Bolden and Marco Wilson. Bolden forced a late incompletion while covering Smith-Schuster in 7-on-7s, fighting for the ball all the way to the ground. Meanwhile, Wilson has the most experience among them.
At safety, Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers remain firmly entrenched as the starters, with Marte Mapu, another 2023 draft pick, and veteran journeyman Jaylinn Hawkins fighting for snaps behind them.
Both Mapu and Hawkins took snaps in a single-high role and two-deep coverages. Before practice, Jerod Mayo said the team is still determining whether Mapu is a linebacker or a safety.

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Special teams

Punt returners: Marcus Jones, DeMario Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk, Jalen Reagor
The returners fielded punts with a hand towel wrapped around their mid-back and tucked under each arm. The drill is intended to teach players to keep their elbows tight to their body as they field the ball.

Extra points

Team owner Robert Kraft strolled onto the field roughly 15 minutes into practice. He chatted with head athletic trainer Jim Whalen briefly at midfield.
Light rain fell throughout the second half of practice, and temperatures stayed in the low 70s.
Drake Maye and Matthew Judon were among those who signed autographs after practice.
The Patriots will hold their next practice Thursday at 11 a.m. back outside Gillette Stadium.