FOXBORO — For the first time in two weeks of training camp, the Patriots tackled to the ground Monday.

They ran goal-line drills.

They labored for two-plus hours in full pads under a blazing sun unleashing 90-degree heat.

They practiced real football; punishing, physical, brutal football.

No surprise, defense won the day.

The Patriots offensive line generated little push up front over six 11-on-11 periods and lost the goal-line drill, a scripted effort by Jerod Mayo to ramp up ahead of Thursday’s preseason opener. Meanwhile, Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye both tossed interceptions in team periods. Granted, neither happened under regular circumstances.

Brissett fired his interception trying to thread a 1-yard pass to Keion White, playing fullback, during the first goal-line drill of camp. Earlier, Maye ripped a tip-drill pick at undrafted rookie tight end Jacob Warren during an 11-on-11 session where only half of the defensive front rushed, and the other half took a knee. It was unclear why.

A strange day, but an important one for the Pats, who are now 10 practices into a heated summer. Their offense has demonstrated meaningful improvement, particularly with Brissett under center. But shaky offensive tackle depth may threaten to again undermine the development of a new system and select young players.

(Relatedly, Maye was often under duress and took snaps with a street free agent at left tackle and undrafted rookie at right for a second straight practice.)

Elsewhere, a young quarterback finally went deep, a speedy receiver returned, a rising defender left, the Pats drilled more kickoffs and Christian Gonzalez and Mike Onwenu starred in 1-on-1s.

Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations:

Attendance

Foxboro, MA – New England Patriots wide receiver Tyquan Thornton makes a catch during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

Returned: WR Tyquan Thornton, TE Jaheim Bell, OT Calvin Anderson

Absent: DL Christian Barmore

Non-participant: OT Chukwuma Okorafor, S/LB Marte Mapu, DB Marcus Jones, S Joshuah Bledsoe

Limited: Thornton, Bell

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

Notes: Thornton and Anderson returned after one-day absences. Bell practiced in full pads for the first time this summer. Okorafor missed his second straight practice, whole Jones and Bledsoe sat out their third straight, respectively.

Mapu hasn’t practiced in a week and a half. Bourne continues to run and stretch with teammates at the beginning of practice, but has yet to participate in any positional or team drills. Cornerback Shaun Wade shed his red, non-contact jersey.

Play of the Day

Bentley’s goal-line pick 

The throw itself was basically a gift, thrown by Brissett and tipped by a teammate. But for a run-first inside linebacker, Ja’Whaun Bentley showed why his all-around instincts have him at the center of the Patriots’ defense.

At the snap of an 11-on-11 period, Bentley diagnosed play-action pass immediately and trailed newly converted fullback Keion White into the left flat. There, he not only jumped Jacoby Brissett’s throw, but beat safety Jabrill Peppers to the ball, caught it as he collided with Peppers and ran back for what would have been a lengthy interception return.

Player of the Day

LB Ja’Whaun Bentley

Foxboro, MA – New England Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley runs a drill during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

After the interception, Bentley batted another pass down at the line in 11-on-11s for his second practice with multiple pass breakups in camp. The seventh-year linebacker has been a coverage liability in the past, but took significant strides two seasons ago. Could Bentley be primed for another jump in that area of his game?

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-13, INT (85-of-124 — 68.5%, 4 INTs, 12 sacks)

Drake Maye: 5-of-10, INT (72-of-120 — 60%, 3 INTs, 12 sacks)

Notes: The coaches’ practice script did the quarterbacks no favors, forcing regular tight-window throws during red-zone periods and goal-line drills. But that didn’t stop Brissett from another efficient day.

He fired the only touchdown pass in the dozen snaps of 11-on-11 red-zone work early in practice, finding Tyquan Thornton on an in-breaking route versus Christian Gonzalez. Brissett then completed all four passes, including a couple to Hunter Henry, over an ensuing 11-on-11 drill with the aforementioned reduced pass rush gave it almost a feel of 7-on-7s. After firing a pick at the goal line, Brissett rebounded with a 4-of-6 finish, finding Henry twice, Ja’Lynn Polk on an out route and Pop Douglas.

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

As for Maye, he opened with three dropbacks over two periods, hitting a checkdown and scrambling twice. The latter, on a fourth-and-2 snap during low red-zone work, may have resulted in a touchdown and was a sound decision, recognizing his initial reads (slant and flat routes on the same side) were covered. In the adjusted 11-on-11 period, Maye went 3-of-4 with an interception he ripped slightly high, and two completions to backup tight end Mitchell Wilcox.

Next, Maye got the defense to jump offside, and after a stuffed Kevin Harris run, rifled three straight incompletions. The first was a catchable deep ball K.J. Osborn misjudged 40 yards downfield and led into a broken up stop-route pass for Wilcox. On his final attempt, Maye launched another go ball, this time overshooting Javon Baker down the left sideline with Gonzalez in tight coverage.

Running the third-string offense against the third-team defense for his final three snaps, Maye finished with a hand-off, short completion to Warren and a sack no player could escape. Just before that period, fellow rookie Joe Milton capped his day going 4-of-7, mostly alongside third-stringers as he again alternated team periods with Bailey Zappe (2-of-3).

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Studs

OL Mike Onwenu

The Patriots’ best offensive lineman — and perhaps best offensive player — went undefeated in 1-on-1 pass rush drills, stonewalling Keion White twice and handling defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale. Onwenu, again, took all of his snaps in team periods inside at guard, where running backs enjoyed their longest runs of practice.

TE Hunter Henry

Following his best practice of camp last Saturday, when he made a spectacular one-handed grab, Henry secured all four targets in team periods Monday. He remains a go-to target for Brissett early in practice and on money downs.

CB Mikey Victor

An undrafted rookie out of Alabama State, Victor looked like he belonged on an NFL roster Monday. He knocked away a fade pass into the end zone during 11-on-11s and going 2-1 during individual drills. Only Gonzalez out-performed him in 1-on-1 coverage drills.

Duds

WR Javon Baker

New England Patriots cornerback Azizi Hearn #42 keeps wide receiver Javon Baker #6 from making a catch during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Baker did win two of his three 1-on-1 reps, twice facing likely cut candidate Azizi Hearn, but failed to record a catch in team periods. Victor denied him on a fade route, then Baker failed to get both feet inbounds on a comeback route working with Joe Milton and Maye overthrew him deep. Baker has lost multiple catches in team drills because he’s been unable to tap both feet inbounds.

RB Terrell Jennings

The fifth running back out of five on the Patriots’ roster, Jennings did himself no favors by committing the only drop of practice.

Offensive notes

Top targets in team drills: TE Hunter Henry 4/4, TE Mitchell Wilcox 2/3, WR Javon Baker 0/3, WR DeMario Douglas 2/2
Drops: RB Terrell Jennings
1-on-1 receiving drill winners: WR K.J Osborn 2-0, WR Ja’Lynn Polk 2-1, Baker 2-1
1-on-1 receiving drill losers: WR David Wallis 0-2, WR JaQuae Jackson 0-2, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster 1-3 (drop)
Top offensive line: LT Vederian Lowe, LG Sidy Sow, C David Andrews, RG Mike Onwenu, RT Calvin Anderson
1-on-1 pass rush drill winners: Onwenu, Sow
1-on-1 pass rush drill losers: Anderson

Quarterbacks

New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III, center, speaks with running back Antonio Gibson, right, during an NFL football training camp, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

In the final team period, Milton took three reps ahead of Drake Maye, who typically follows Jacoby Brissett. Milton working with the second-team offense for the first time could be an indication he’ll see more reps in Thursday’s preseason opener.
During that period, Maye and Milton both took seven snaps compared to Brissett’s eight. Overall, Maye took roughly a dozen more than Milton, right on par with a usual practice.

Running backs

More tough sledding for the backs. Rhamondre Stevenson got stuffed on two of his first three hand-offs in 11-on-11s, and never broke free for a long run.
Stevenson has gone quiet over the last week, both between the tackles and as a pass-catcher. Though he remains the Patriots’ firmly established starter here.
Antonio Gibson slipped through an inside gap between center David Andrews and right guard Mike Onwenu on his first run of the day, but never replicated that success. Gibson, like Stevenson, reps exclusively with the starting unit.
No back was stuffed more often than Kevin Harris, who got stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage three times. He worked almost exclusively with Drake Maye’s second-team offense.
JaMycal Hasty, a pass-catching back, snagged his only target, a checkdown from Maye in red-zone 11-on-11s.
Defensive linemen Keion White and Jeremiah Pharms Jr. both took turns at fullback during goal-line team periods, with neither enjoying much success after White initially crunched Jahlani Tavai on his first snap.

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Wide receivers

Welcome back, Tyquan Thornton. After sitting out Saturday’s practice for maintenance, Thornton blazed by Christian Gonzalez for a touchdown on an inside route during the second full-team period.
Thornton, however, was held out of later 11-on-11s and instead ran on the sideline. The former second-round pick is enjoying his best summer as a pro, which should continue — if he stays healthy.
Like Thornton, veteran K.J. Osborn keeps running with the starters, as the Patriots’ most common personnel groupings to start 11-on-11s have been 11 (three receivers, one running back and one tight end) and 12 personnel.
Osborn failed to reel in a catchable Maye bomb midway through practice and caught his only other target courtesy of Brissett.
Javon Baker (0/3), DeMario Douglas (2/2) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (1/2) were the only other receivers to see multiple targets during team periods.
Smith-Schuster’s grab was one of the most impressive by this group, slowing up on a deep, right-to-left crosser to adjust and catch an underthrown Brissett ball with Isaiah Bolden right behind him.
Smith-Schuster has been fully relegated to the second and third-string offenses, even running with a group of reserves when the Patriots split players on to two fields for 11-on-11s Saturday. Smith-Schuster worked with Bailey Zappe and Joe Milton, while most other receivers stayed with Brissett and Maye.

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Tight ends

As Hunter Henry inhaled targets from Brissett, No. 2 tight end Austin Hooper was limited to one on a shovel pass during red-zone work. Hooper has only that catch over the last two practices, after he led the team in receptions through the first week of camp.
Third-string tight end Mitchell Wilcox is an early favorite of Maye’s, both on checkdowns and initial reads over the middle.
Seventh-round rookie Jaheim Bell was limited in his return, donning pads for the first time this summer. Before his injury, he repped with the third-team offense.
Hooper, Wilcox and fellow veteran backup La’Michael Pettway blocked in 1-on-1 pass rush before joining team periods. None won a single rep, with Pettway coming closest against outside linebacker Oshane Ximines.

Offensive line

With the return of veteran offensive tackle Calvin Anderson, the Patriots started Vederian Lowe at left tackle for a fourth straight day and Anderson opposite him at right tackle.
Third-round rookie Caedan Wallace took reps at both spots during team periods.
Center David Andrews increased his participation during team periods, having eased back into action following two off days. Sidy Sow and Mike Onwenu remain entrenched at both starting guard spots.
Andrews won his only rep of 1-on-1s, yanking defensive tackle Davon Godchaux to the ground.
Backup center Nick Leverett continues to look more comfortable at the position, making line calls and consistent snaps. He botched a snap on Day 1 of camp, but hasn’t since.
Behind him, the Patriots may be done with the Atonio Mafi experiment. The college guard moved back to his old position working with the third-string offense, while undrafted rookie Charles Turner played center.

Defensive notes

New England Patriots head coach Jarod Mayo during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/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, Mike Purcell and Jeremiah Pharms Jr.; linebackers Matt Judon, 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, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, Jaylinn Hawkins, Isaiah Bolden, Azizi Hearn, Marcellas Dial, A.J. Thomas, Dell Pettus, Marco Wilson and Brenden Schooler.
Interceptions: Bentley, Thomas
Pass breakups: Bentley, Peppers, Wade, Victor
1-on-1 coverage drill winners: Gonzalez 3-0, Victor 2-1, Dial 2-1
1-on-1 coverage drill losers: Austin 1-2
Would-be sacks: Watts, Team
1-on-1 pass rush winners: Jennings 2-0, Ekuale 1-1
1-on-1 pass rush losers: Watts 0-2, Pharms Jr.

Defensive linemen

Another day, another wall built in the name of run defense. Davon Godchaux and Daniel Ekuale plugged the middle, with Armon Watts, Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and newly-signed journeyman Mike Purcell following them.
Purcell took some reps with the starters, a notable jump after just a few days with the team.
Watts’ sack was an unblocked would-be drop of Bailey Zappe during red-zone 11-on-11s.
Backup defensive tackle Trysten Hill, who dominated last Saturday, left practice midway through to visit the trainer’s table.

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Linebackers

Matt Judon did not participate in 1-on-1 pass rush and only started a few 11-on-11 periods. He did not flash at any time.
Aside from Bentley’s big day, not much to report here. Tavai is a staple in this defense, but hasn’t made as many plays as Bentley during team periods or had a standout day in 1-on-1s. Not to mention getting blown up by fullback Keion White.
Anfernee Jennings is coming on lately, always as a run defender; though he also had a couple decisive wins in 1-on-1 pass rush.
Backup inside linebacker Christian Elliss saw some run with the starting defense. Elliss is a core special teamer, something Raekwon McMillan may be developing into based on his reps with the top units.

Defensive backs

Christian Gonzalez is looking more like himself, not allowing a catch in 1-on-1s and just one grab during team periods. The problem? That catch went for a touchdown.
Tyquan Thornton beat Gonzalez inside during 11-on-11 red-zone work, the only touchdown in that entire period. The only other target Gonzalez saw was the overthrown deep ball for Baker.
Opposite him, Jonathan Jones continues to patch holes, moving from outside corner to nickelback to safety with Marcus Jones, Marte Mapu and Joshuah Bledsoe still out. Jones allowed one catch on two targets.
Jones’ movement has allowed Alex Austin, Marco Wilson, Azizi Hearn and Isaiah Bolden to see starting reps. Austin took the first reps in the final 11-on-11 period, and yielded a catch to Ja’Lynn Polk.
Jabrill Peppers made one of his best plays in coverage this summer, crashing down on Mitchell Wilcox to stop a Drake Maye pass.
Backup safety A.J. Thomas scooped up Maye’s interception off the hands of backup tight end Jacob Warren, who couldn’t secure a high throw running over the deep middle.

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Special teams

The Patriots practiced full-team punts and kickoffs in the same practice for the first time all summer.
Kick returners: DeMario Douglas, Jalen Reagor, Ja’Lynn Polk, K.J. Osborn, Antonio Gibson
Punt returners: Douglas, Polk, Osborn, Reagor
Kick return team: Brenden Schooler, Raekwon McMillan, Kyle Dugger, Marco Wilson, Jaylinn Hawkins, Isaiah Bolden, Christian Elliss and Anfernee Jennings
Newly-signed long snapper Tucker Addington, who was with the team briefly last summer, appeared in his first practice.

Extra points

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bon Jovi attended practice with owner Robert Kraft.
Matt Judon, Keion White, Javon Baker, Jahlani Tavai, Jaylinn Hawkins and Caedan Wallace spoke to reporters after practice.
The Patriots will be back on the field Tuesday at 11 a.m.