FOXBORO — Was this a glimpse at the future?

Or a band-aid for today?

Two days after Drake Maye saw extra time with starting Patriots offensive linemen in a preseason loss to the Eagles, he took his first practice reps behind those same linemen this summer.

Maye finished Saturday’s practice with the starting O-line during a half-speed, two-minute drill, moments after it blocked for Jacoby Brissett in the same period. That drive capped a light, non-padded workout lasting 90 minutes with multiple offensive linemen sitting out. Veteran offensive tackle Calvin Anderson, a regular with Maye’s second-team offense, did not participate, and neither did backup center/guard Nick Leverett.

Earlier in practice, the Patriots rotated two rookies — Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson — into Brissett’s starting line and pulled right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor and left guard Sidy Sow to make room. Later, Okorafor, Sow and left tackle Vederian Lowe all blocked for Maye in team drills. Those moves hardly seemed motivated by injury, the reason right guard Mike Onwenu cited post-game when asked about the changes.

Oh, and among those changes was Onwenu taking snaps at right tackle for the first time in training camp. He briefly kicked out from guard in two periods with Maye’s second-team offense. So what does this mean for Maye?

Through 15 practices, the rookie has yet to take any reps with the starting unit, indicating Brissett remains the heavy favorite to win their competition; especially considering he’s out-performed Maye in most of those workouts. But coming off a strong preseason performance, Maye, in a non-padded practice, received better protection and turned in a tidy 11-of-13 performance in team drills.

Coincidence?

Elsewhere at practice, the defense began to replace Matt Judon, Joe Milton threw a tip-drill interception, one rookie receiver received a promotion and two defensive backs returned to action.

Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations:

Attendance

Jonathan Jones #31 of the New England Patriots walks off the field with a young girl during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Returned: CB Jonathan Jones, CB Marcus Jones

Injured: TE Austin Hooper

Absent: TE Hunter Henry, OLB Josh Uche, C Nick Leverett, OT Calvin Anderson, S Marte Mapu, WR JaQuae Jackson, OLB Oshane Ximines, DL Christian Barmore

Limited: CB Shaun Wade

PUP: WR Kendrick Bourne, LB Sione Takitaki, OL Cole Strange

Notes: Jonathan Jones returned to practice for the first time in almost two weeks, while Marcus Jones participated for the first time in nearly three. Both defensive backs were active for team periods, but did not rotate with the rest of their secondary mates. Hooper left practice shortly after missing a pass in 7-on-7s and was spotted walking off the field by ESPN.

Henry sat out a third straight practice, but appeared on the field for the first time since then and watched in street clothes. Uche, Leverett, Anderson, Jackson and Ximines were all newly absent after playing in Thursday’s preseason game against the Eagles. Jackson was carted off with a lower-body injury.

Play of the Day

Running back Kevin Harris takes part in a training camp drill in Foxboro. He’s made some productive plays late in the season for the Patriots. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Maye-to-Harris down the sideline

Who?!

That’s right, the Patriots’ bowling ball of a third-string running back, at 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds, caught a pinpoint 30-yard pass from Drake Maye in 7-on-7s. Harris beat backup inside linebacker Christian Elliss down the right sideline on a wheel route for one of his most impressive reps as a receiver this summer.

Player of the Day

WR Ja’Lynn Polk

Polk gets the nod here over Maye — more on him later — and fellow receiver K.J. Osborn, who also caught all of his targets for a team-high three receptions. Why the nod?

He got a promotion. Polk opened with the starting offense in 11-on-11s and 7-on-7s for the first time all camp. The second-round rookie has led the Patriots in catches for a good while now, and his hard work is now finally being rewarded.

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.

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett throws as Drake Maye looks on during a training camp practice at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Jacoby Brissett: 9/13, sack (146-of-221 — 66.8%, 6 INTs, 22 sacks)

Drake Maye: 11/13, sack (125-of-203 — 60%, 5 INTs, 19 sacks)

Notes: A quality day for both quarterbacks.

Maye’s comfort in the offense has clearly grown over the past week, as evidenced not only by his completion percentage but his decisiveness in the pocket and greater willingness to attack downfield. After his deep connection with Harris, Maye’s best throw was a post-corner pass to K.J. Osborn in stride during 11-on-11s. Maye later recorded his daily rep of indecision, cocking his arm to throw only to bring back it down in team drills, which can invite pressure and possibly trouble.

But largely, Maye was in control and in rhythm Saturday; hitting seven different receivers and building on the progress he’s shown in the aforementioned areas. He also completed back-to-back passes to Ja’Lynn Polk in a late 11-on-11 period. His only incompletions were a scramble-drill pass batted away by Alex Austin and missed connection with Kayshon Boutte.

Brissett took all of the starting reps once again, and opened with a 2-of-4 showing in a full-team period. He found Rhamondre Stevenson in the flat and Kayshon Boutte on a crossing route, around a deep underthrow of Tyquan Thornton and misfire to Boutte. Brissett followed that with a 3-of-4 period during 7-on-7s, completing three passes on in-breaking routes and missing tight end Austin Hooper down the seam.

Later, he connected with Thornton in the flat, Douglas on a screen, took a sack and layered a throw to tight end Mitchell Wilcox on a deep cross. His day ended with an overthrow of Stevenson in the flat and safe, over-the-middle toss to Douglas.

Offensive notes

Foxboro, MA -Ja’Lynn Polk makes a catch during Patriots training camp. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

Top targets in team drills: WR DeMario Douglas 3/5, WR K.J. Osborn 3/3, Ja’Lynn Polk 3/3, WR Tyquan Thornton 2/3
Drops: N/A
Top offensive line: LT Vederian Lowe, LG Sidy Sow, C David Andrews, RG Mike Onwenu, RT Chukwuma Okorafor

Quarterbacks

After Brissett and Maye, rookie Joe Milton was the only quarterback to see reps in team periods.
At the end of practice, Milton threw into double coverage, allowing for a Marco Wilson deflection, then a tip-drill pick for backup safety A.J. Thomas.
Neither Milton nor Bailey Zappe has inspired much confidence in recent practices, and it appears their battle for the No. 3 job could go down to the end of training camp.

Running backs

Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson remain a one-two punch in the backfield. Both saw reps with the starting unit and caught one pass.
Stevenson was heavily involved in Brissett’s period as a rusher and receiver. His best gains on the ground, again, came behind outside zone blocking.
Kevin Harris did not see another target after his big grab in 7-on-7s.

Wide receivers

Welcome to the top of the depth chart, Ja’Lynn Polk. He replaced both K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton — the team’s entrenched starters to date –in different periods. Polk caught two passes in the flat and the other on a crosser from Maye.
As Polk got promoted, fellow rookie Javon Baker repped with the scout-team offense in a period that split the first- and second-stringers from all others on the depth chart. He finished with a single catch.
Good day for Osborn, especially downfield, while Thornton had a rare day with multiple catches (two). Overall, he’s averaged less than a catch per practice for the last three weeks.
DeMario Douglas snatched two passes on short, in-breaking routes and another on a screen. He struggled more downfield than he’s shown in recent practices.

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Tight ends

With Henry out and Hooper limping off early, veteran backups Mitchel Wilcox and La’Michael Pettway took starting reps toward the end of practice. They combined for three catches in team drills.
Wilcox caught one each from Brissett and Maye, the latter on a deep crossing route.
No real action for seventh-round rookie Jaheim Bell.

Offensive line

Another tough day on the ground, even on a day without pads. None of the top line combinations generated much room.
Third-round rookie Caedan Wallace played both left and right tackle, and rookie guard Layden Robinson also played both sides. Wallace told reporters after practice he expects the rotations to continue, but wasn’t given a reason for the changes Saturday.
Again, it’s hard to discern whether the Patriots are simply planning for emergency with their O-line combinations or considering long-term changes.
Saturday’s shuffling did, however, highlight a depth problem for the Patriots at center. Backup guard Liam Fornadel, who botched two snaps in Thursday’s game, repped again after David Andrews in team drills.
Undrafted rookie Charles Turner has yet to receive a real look in 11-on-11s, despite starting the last three years at LSU.
Mike Onwenu said after practice he’s at 350 pounds, his desired playing weight.

Defensive notes

Foxboro, MA – New England Patriots cornerback Alex Austin waves to fan as he arrives for training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

Starting and second-string personnel during team periods: defensive linemen Davon Godchaux, Deatrich Wise, Keion White, Armon Watts, Daniel Ekuale, Trysten Hill, Sam Roberts and Jeremiah Pharms Jr.; linebackers  Jahlani Tavai, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Raekwon McMillan, Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings, Christian Elliss, Joe Giles-Harris, William Bradley-King and Oshane Ximines; defensive backs Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, Jaylinn Hawkins, Isaiah Bolden, Azizi Hearn, Marco Wilson, Dell Pettus and Brenden Schooler.
Interceptions: S A.J. Thomas
Pass breakups: Austin, Dial, Wilson
Would-be sacks: Wise, Pettus

Defensive linemen

Deatrich Wise interrupted Brissett’s second 11-on-11 period with a sack off the left side, where the Patriots offense had Vederian Lowe and rookie guard Layden Robinson.
No major changes up front. Davon Godchaux and Daniel Ekuale remain in the middle, followed by a cluster of veterans fighting for backup spots.
Defensive tackle Armon Watts, who signed as a free agent after stints with Pittsburgh and Minnesota, received a few snaps with the starting unit. He played well last Thursday against Philadelphia.

Linebackers

New England Patriots defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. takes to the field for a recent training camp practice. (Staff Photo/Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

Without Matthew Judon, the Patriots started Anfernee Jennings in his place opposite Keion White, same as Thursday’s preseason game.
Jennings is the Patriots’ best run defender on the edge, making him a strong candidate for early-down work. Of note: fellow outside linebackers Joshua Uche and Oshane Ximines were both out Saturday.
Jahlani Tavai and Ja’Whaun Bentley started the first 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 periods. Tavai came inches away from a pass breakup over the middle, and can expect to see snaps inside and outside.
The competition behind them at inside linebacker remains tight. Veterans Raekwon McMillan, Christian Elliss and Joe-Giles Harris have all made cases for roster spots.
Even Giles-Harris, who’s most often repped with the backup units, has three pass breakups in training camp, second only to Kyle Dugger and Alex Austin, both of whom have four, and little-known corner Azizi Hearn who has six.

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Defensive backs

Neither Jonathan Jones nor Marcus Jones started the opening 11-on-11 period, but worked themselves in later. Marcus Jones led off the first 7-on-7 drill at nickelback. It’s likely the staff is easing both players in after extended layoffs.
With a vacancy still opposite Christian Gonzalez, the Patriots started Alex Austin, Marco Wilson and Isaiah Bolden in different team periods.
Austin earned his pass breakup trailing DeMario Douglas on a red-zone snap of 11-on-11s and knocking away Maye’s offering from behind.
Sixth-round rookie Marcellas Dial knocked away an underthrown deep ball for Tyquan Thornton early in full-team drills. Wilson tallied his PBU on Milton’s throw over the middle into double coverage, which set up the A.J. Thomas pick.
Undrafted rookie safety Dell Pettus, for the first time possibly all camp, repped with the starting defense, as did top backups Jaylinn Hawkins and Joshuah Bledsoe for different stretches. Pettus had a would-be sack, flying in unblocked on a blitz.
Gonzalez allowed one catch on the only target he saw: a flat throw to Thornton midway through practice.

Special teams

No live special teams reps Saturday. The Patriots did hold some walkthroughs with their punt team.

Extra points

The Patriots will return to practice Sunday at 11 a.m.
Practices are closed to the public for the remainder of the summer and season.
Gonzalez, Onwenu, White, Wallace, McMillan and Jennings all spoke to reporters after practice.

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