FOXBORO — Through five practices, the Patriots’ quarterback competition has a clear leader.

It’s Jacoby Brissett.

Brissett has taken all of the starting reps during team periods and enjoyed his best practice of the summer Monday, going 10-of-11 with two sacks during competitive team periods. Drake Maye simultaneously suffered through his worst practice as a Patriot and produced one completion against two sacks during 11-on-11s. Not great.

The good news for Maye: there’s still three weeks left.

As Brissett pulled further ahead Monday, the Patriots ran the ball surprisingly well over their first padded practice this summer. Running backs Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson and Kevin Harris all ripped off long gains during team drills, despite rushing behind a backup center and a rookie at left tackle. It helped that the Pats’ top defense had holes to begin with.

For the first time in training camp, outside linebacker Matt Judon missed an entire practice during his contract dispute. He watched initial stretching in street clothes, then left after an early chat with Jerod Mayo and returned for an animated, mid-practice talk with director of player personnel Matt Groh before leaving again. Meanwhile, disgruntled defensive tackle Davon Godchaux sat out most team periods, as his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, put pressure on the Patriots through his attendance and a long chat with Groh.

When Godchaux was absent, that left the Pats without their two best defensive tackles (Christian Barmore is out indefinitely), and often a top safety. Jabrill Peppers missed 11-on-11s due to a new lower-body injury that required two visits to the trainer’s table. Oh, and outside linebacker Joshua Uche got kicked out of practice after a post-play scrum late in the team drills.

Elsewhere, the entire offense took a penalty lap, two receivers made highlight reel catches, rookie O-linemen starred in 1-on-1 pass rush and Kyle Dugger snatched an interception.

Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations:

Attendance

New England Patriots David Andrews during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Absent: C David Andrews, S/LB Marte Mapu

Non-participant: OLB Matthew Judon, TE Jaheim Bell

Injured: S Jabrill Peppers

Limited: WR DeMario Douglas, DL Davon Godchaux

Non-contact jersey: CB Shaun Wade

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

Notes: Judon wore street clothes during stretching, left the practice fields, then returned and left again. Godchaux participated in positional work and the final 11-on-11 period, but didn’t wear leg pads. Peppers dealt with an apparent lower-body injury that kept him out of team drills.

Starting center David Andrews missed his first practice of training camp for unknown reasons. Douglas is still limited by a minor hand injury, Mapu sat out his third straight practice, and Bell missed his first.

Play of the Day

Javon Baker climbs the ladder

Another day, another Javon Baker highlight.

Late in 11-on-11s, the Patriots’ fourth-round rookie receiver leapt over two closing defenders — cornerback Alex Austin and safety Jaylinn Hawkins — for a spectacular grab 30 yards downfield. Baker had taken off on a go route down the right sideline, but stopped just in time to leap and pluck Jacoby Brissett’s pass out of the air on a line. The Patriots’ social media team waited just a matter of minutes before posting it

Player of the Day

QB Jacoby Brissett

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett throws during practice at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

The best performance by any quarterback so far in camp.

Brissett found Baker deep, then dropped one in the bucket for Tyquan Thornton, who also beat Alex Austin’s tight coverage for a big gain during 11-on-11s. Brissett threw in rhythm and showed calm in muddy pockets. But enough about that.

Going 10-of-11 in pads just about says it all.

QB Corner

Note: The passing stats below were tallied during competitive 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 periods only. The stats in parentheses represent the quarterbacks’ camp-long performance.

Jacoby Brissett: 10-of-11, 2 sacks (49-of-66, INT, 7 sacks)

Drake Maye: 3-of-11, INT, 2 sacks (46-of-71, 2 INTs, 5 sacks)

Notes: Brissett hit passes at all three levels during an opening 7-on-7 period, finding four different receivers while Maye found two teammates and Kyle Dugger on an interception. After Maye went 2-of-6 in that drill, he made three straight hand-offs and took a sack during the team’s initial, run-focused 11-on-11 period. Over the final full-team sessions, Maye went 1-of-4, including a contested slant throw and one drop, then misfired over the middle and took a sack.

The rookie missed behind and ahead of receivers and struggled in crowded pockets. Maye is struggling to throw with a proper base in those situations, which has affected his accuracy. As for Brissett, his 6-of-7 showing during full-team periods included two deep strikes and completions to all the Pats’ starting tight ends and receivers.

Studs

OL Mike Onwenu

FOXBORO MA. – OCTOBER 14: New England Patriots offensive guard Mike Onwenu on the field during practice at Gillette Stadium on October 14, 2021 in Foxboro, MA. (Staff Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

The Patriots’ best offensive linemen went 3-0 during 1-on-1 pass rush, stoning Josh Uche twice and the powerful Keion White on another rep. Onwenu also paved the way on two long runs that gashed the Patriots’ starting defense off the right side. Whether he’s at tackle or guard, Onwenu is making an impact.

WR Tyquan Thornton

Is this former second-round pick finally coming around?

Thornton had a rare strong practice in pads, showing off his improved strength and focus making not one, but two over-the-shoulder grabs during team drills. Both came from Brissett, who has worked regularly with the 6-foot-3 speedster on the first-team offense. Thornton finished with X catches overall.

Duds

QB Drake Maye

Sheesh.

In the opening 7-on-7 period, Maye went 2-of-6 with an interception. He followed that performance with one completion over two 11-on-11 drills: a slant to Javon Baker that was nearly broken up. Maye had multiple bad misses and took a couple sacks. Chalk it up to growing pains.

Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye experiences growing pains in first padded practice

OLB Josh Uche

Thanks to his elite speed rush and burst off the line, Uche typically dominates 1-on-1 pass rush. Not Monday.

He went 0-3, losing twice to Onwenu and projected starting tackle Chukwuma Okorafor. If that wasn’t bad enough, Uche and Okorafor got tangled after one play later in team periods, and Uche got kicked out.

Offensive notes

Top targets in team drills: WR Javon Baker 2/5, TE Michell Wilcox 1/4, TE Hunter Henry 2/3, WR Tyquan Thornton 2/2, TE Austin Hooper 2/2, RB Antonio Gibson 2/2
Drops: WR Javon Baker, TE La’Michael Pettway, TE Mitchell Wilcox
Top offensive line: LT Caedan Wallace, LG Sidy Sow, C Nick Leverett, RG Mike Onwenu, RT Chukwuma Okorafor
1-on-1 pass rush winners: OL Mike Onwenu 3-0, C Nick Leverett 3-0, OG Layden Robinson 2-0
1-on-1 pass rush losers: OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr. 0-2
Note: the entire offense took a penalty lap for failing to hustle after a dropped pass. Three other players also took laps for false-starting.

Quarterbacks

Joe Milton III #19 and Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots get ready to throw during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

As Brissett strengthened his grip on the top quarterback spot and Maye slipped, sixth-round rookie Joe Milton took the No. 3 reps in team drills yet again and had another good day.
Miltion’s initial reps in team periods were interrupted, however, because he dropped an under-center snap, which led to Bailey Zappe subbing in for one play.
Once he returned, Milton hit a checkdown and went 3-of-4 over his only other team period, firing a slant to Gibson, in-cut to Jalen Reagor and a screen pass around a Javon Baker drop.
Zappe went 2-of-4, hitting two short routes around a missed back-shoulder throw to Baker and a drop by backup tight end La’Michael Pettway.

Running backs

Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson flashed real potential as one-two backfield punch, bursting through for explosive gains behind zone blocking in team periods. More than Brissett’s breakthrough, this is the biggest reason for hope with the new offense.
Stevenson, though, took a lap for committing a false start early in practice.
Gibson knifed through the left side of the line in team drills, and third-year backup Kevin Harris bowled up the middle on his own long run; an important mix for an outside zone-based offense.
Not to be out done, fringe reserve Terrell Jennings barreled into two defensive backs at the end of his best run during into 11-on-11s; slamming into a surprised Dell Pettus and Azizi Hearn.
As pass-catchers, Gibson caught both of targets, including a nice screen he hit for 10 yards, while Stevenson nabbed Brissett’s opening pass attempt in the flat.

Wide receivers

Patriots receiver Javon Baker (Paul Connors/Boston Herald)

Javon Baker is climbing up the ranks. The fourth-round rookie took reps with the starting offense in the final 11-on-11 period, a stretch he opened with the aforementioned Play of the Day.
Baker does, however, still have rookie moments; namely his late drop of a Milton pass that helped close practice. His job will be to harness the explosive talent that separates him from this group.
K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton joined Baker in the starting lineup during the final 11-on-11 period. Both receivers have consistently been at the top of the rotation, followed by Ja’Lynn Polk, who couldn’t secure his only target in team drills.
Thornton’s ability to track deep balls has been a meaningful growth in his game. At this point, he would be on the 53-man roster.
JuJu Smith-Schuster remains a disappointment, seeing a single pass during 11-on-11s. He had one catch, thanks to a Brissett offering in 7-on-7s.
The Patriots dearly miss DeMario Douglas, who would completely change the quarterbacks’ options over the middle of the field and against man-to-man coverage.

Tight ends

Shut out for most of practice, Hunter Henry made the best catch of any tight end; a diving effort over the middle that saved a Brissett pass after it had sailed just over another receiver early in 11-on-11s.
Austin Hooper’s nine catches over the Patriots’ last three practices lead all pass-. He’s proven reliable as a checkdown option and up the seam.
The battle for the No. 3 job took a tough turn, with seventh-round rookie Jaheim Bell sitting out team periods and Mitchell Wilcox and La’Michael Pettway both dropping passes.

Offensive line

Caedan Wallace #70 of the New England Patriots during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Are the Patriots settling on an offensive tackle duo? Third-round rookie Caedan Wallace manned the starting left tackle spot, while veteran Chukwuma Okorafor stayed home at right tackle for a third straight practice.
Both offensive tackles held their own during team periods, despite committing a simultaneous false-start late in practice. Okorafor and Wallace both went for a lap, before returning
Wallace impressed during 1-on-1 pass rush, going 2-0-1. Fourth-round rookie guard Layden Robinson delivered the rep of practice, sending Deatrich Wise backward with a firm punch. Robinson also handled veteran defensive lineman Armon Watts, and continues to rep with the second-team offense.
Without David Andrews out, backup guard Nick Leverett — who has 42 career regular-season snaps at center — stepped in his place. Leverett hasn’t botched a snap since Day 1 of camp.
Behind him, Atonio Mafi, who now has four missed or off-center snaps in camp, moved up to the second team. Joe Milton appeared at fault on Monday’s snafu, sitting out for one rep while Mafi remained.
Undrafted rookie center Charles Turner got pancaked during a late rushing rep in 11-on-11s.

Defensive notes

Starting and second-string personnel during team periods: defensive linemen 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 and Oshane Ximines; defensive backs Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Marte Mapu, Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Alex Austin, Jaylinn Hawkins, Isaiah Bolden, Joshuah Bledsoe and Marco Wilson.
Interceptions: S Kyle Dugger
Pass breakups: N/A
Would-be sacks: Team 2, DL Keion White, OLB Oshane Ximines, DL Trysten Hill
1-on-1 pass rush winners: DL Deatrich Wise 2-1,
1-on-1 pass rush losers: OLB Joshua Uche 0-3, DL Armon Watts 0-3

New England Patriots Kyle Dugger makes a catch during a recent practice at Gillette Stadium. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Defensive linemen

Davon Godchaux waited until the Patriots’ final 11-on-11 period to join in, after he’d participated in most positional drills. Next to him, Daniel Ekuale lined up for a third straight practice in Christian Barmore’s place.
No defender was more impressive Monday than White, who tallied a run stuff in addition to his sack of Maye.
White, unblocked, would’ve tossed Rhamondre Stevenson for negative five yards on a late pitch during 11-on-11s. A breakout could be coming soon.
Tough day for veteran defensive tackle Armon Watts, who struggled in 1-on-1s. Fellow backup Trysten Hill added a late sack to bolster his case for a roster spot.

Linebackers

Without Matt Judon, the Patriots rotated Joshua Uche, Jahlani Tavai and Oshane Ximines at outside linebacker with their top defense. White continued to man the opposite edge with the first-team unit.
Uche is off to one of the worst starts of any training camp in his five-year career. Time to turn up the heat.
Ximines could have a sleeper case to make the roster. He tallied the day’s first would-be sack, staying disciplined against a Maye play-action bootleg to meet the rookie in the backfield.
Decent coverage day for backup inside linebacker Christian Elliss.

Defensive backs

Needing one day to bounce back from a quiet stretch of camp, Kyle Dugger tapped a Maye pass to himself and snatched it early in 7-on-7s. Dugger also picked Jacoby Brissett on Day 1 of camp.
No major changes in this group: Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones at the top, with Alex Austin close behind.
Austin was victimized on both Javon Baker’s and Tyquan Thornton’s highlight grabs, but maintained tight coverage. Great offense defeating good defense.
Joshuah Bledsoe replaced Jabrill Peppers when the latter missed team periods with a fresh injury.
It’s unknown what’s kept Marte Mapu out of the last three practices, but the former third-round pick is missing valuable time at a position that could suddenly use some depth.

Special teams

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The Patriots practiced kickoffs in a full-team period for the first time all training camp, with a bevy of returners and kicker Chad Ryland taking all kickoffs.
Kick returners: DB Marcus Jones, WR DeMario Douglas, WR Jalen Reagor, WR Ja’Lynn Polk, WR K.J. Osborn, RB Antonio Gibson
Kick coverage team: Ryland, S Brenden Schooler, S Kyle Dugger, OLB Josh Uche TE Austin Hooper, CB Marco Wilson, OLB Oshane Ximines, S Jaylinn Hawkins, S Joshuah Bledsoe, LB Raekwon McMillan
Ryland told reporters after practice he returned to some of his old kicking fundamentals this offseason, including a more upright stance on field goal attempts.

Extra points

Backup offensive guard Michael Jordan was the first player on the field.
Wide receiver K.J. Osborn, running back Antonio Gibson, tight end Austin Hooper, left guard Sidy Sow, defensive lineman Armon Watts and kicker Chad Ryland spoke with reporters after practice.
The Patriots will return to practice Tuesday at 11 a.m. before a scheduled off day Wednesday.
Former Patriots offensive tackle Marcus Cannon is scheduled to be a special guest at Wednesday’s practice.