FOXBORO — The Patriots took it easy in their final practice in front of the media this summer.

After 20 practices with reporters present, the Patriots now go dark for the rest of the season, only allowing the media a short glimpse of the beginning of practice.

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said earlier in the week that anyone healthy would play in Sunday’s preseason finale. He amended that statement Friday to say that “we do have some players dealing with small things that probably won’t play and get ready for the regular season — some of our proven players.”

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Based on an early walk-through portion of practice, some of those players appear to be running back Rhamondre Stevenson, center David Andrews, safeties Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger, cornerbacks Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones and Christian Gonzalez, linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux.

Elsewhere at practice, rookie QB Joe Milton showcased his arm strength, offensive lineman Nick Leverett took on an expanded role, and a new starter could be emerging due to injuries in the light, non-padded, jog-through session.

Attendance

Returned: TE Mitchell Wilcox, OLB Oshane Ximines

Absent: S Marte Mapu, DT Christian Barmore, CB Mikey Victor, OLB Josh Uche, OT Vederian Lowe, DT Armon Watts

Non-participant: OT Calvin Anderson, TE Hunter Henry

Limited: DE Deatrich Wise, Ximines, Wilcox

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

New England Patriots defensive end Keion White (99) and New England Patriots defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. (91) stretch as the Patriots take practice at Gillette on Aug. 22. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

Notes: Wilcox and Ximines participated during the opening stretching period but then departed for a side field to work on conditioning. That they were on the field at all at the start of practice could be a sign that they’ll be ready to practice soon … Wise was newly limited and also worked on conditioning along with Wilcox, Ximines, Anderson and Henry … With Ximines, Uche and Wise all out of practice and Matthew Judon traded to the Falcons, the Patriots had to rely on some newcomers and unheralded defenders at the edge positions. Anfernee Jennings and Keion White still look starters, but beyond those two players, the Patriots had just William Bradley-King, Jotham Russell, Kobe Jones and Christian McCarroll in typical edge-setting and pass-rushing roles. Bradley-King, a 2021 seventh-round pick, was on the Patriots’ practice squad last season. He received the biggest opportunity with Wise, Ximines and Uche out. Russell is a 21-year-old international pathway program player from Australia who is converting from playing Rugby Union. Jones and McCarroll were signed early this week after trying out with the Patriots … Victor appeared to suffer an injury Thursday in practice … Lowe the Patriots’ top left tackle when healthy, missed a second-straight day … Watts, who’s fighting for a roster spot, has been in and out of practice this week … Austin Hooper served in a starting role with Henry and Wilcox out. The Patriots also have rookies Jaheim Bell and Jacob Warren and converted wide receiver La’Michael Pettway at tight end.

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: N/A (161-of-246 — 65.4%, 6 INTs, 28 sacks)

Drake Maye: N/A (143-of-229 — 62.4%, 5 INTs, 21 sacks)

Notes: Brissett and Maye both primarily played behind the Patriots’ starting offensive line and went up against a scout-team defense, reading off the Commanders’ defense on play cards.

Maye did take some snaps with a rotated offensive line that included some backups.

Brissett was 9-of-9 overall and 5-of-5 in 11-on-11 drills, but the raw numbers mean little since it wasn’t a fully competitive practice.

Maye was 15-of-17 overall and 9-of-10 in 11-on-11s. His two incompletions were throw to wide receiver Kayshon Boutte. One pass was too far in front of Boutte, and the other one was behind his intended target.

Bailey Zappe received the majority of scout-team work on offense, dropping back 22 times and completing 12 passes. Joe Milton III was 7-of-14 in scout-team work.

Zappe quarterbacked the most competitive portion of practice, leading third-team offense against a third-team defense in 11-on-11s with neither squad reading off of play cards. Zappe was 4-of-7 in the session, and he took a would-be sack from Bradley-King. Zappe’s first pass would have been a hospital ball to Bell if it had come in a game. He had completions to wide receiver Kawaan Baker, running back Terrell Jennings and tight end La’Michael Pettway and incompletions to Bell to wide receiver Matt Landers.

Milton let a deep ball fly to Landers, who’s 6-foot-4, 200 pounds and runs a 4.37-second 40-yard dash, late in 11-on-11s that really showcased the rookie sixth-round pick’s big arm. Landers might have been flagged for offensive pass interference in a game, since he pushed off of safety Jaylinn Hawkins.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye #10 gets ready to throws as Jacoby Brissett and Joe Milton III #19 look on during practice at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Studs

S Dell Pettus

Pettus has been a playmaker in camp and broke up a pass intended for Landers from Milton in 11-on-11s.

DE William Bradley-King

Bradley-King is still a longshot for the roster, but if the Patriots are nervous about their depth at defensive end, he’d probably be the beneficiary roster spot for in-game role with a call-up off of the practice squad.

Duds

TE Jacob Warren

Warren received reps with top quarterbacks and the scout team. He dropped a pass from Milton.

WR Javon Baker

Baker didn’t catch a pass in team drills. His lone target was thrown out in front of him from Zappe.

New England Patriots wide receiver Javon Baker makes a catch during practice outside Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Offensive notes

The Patriots’ top offensive line on Friday: left tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, left guard Sidy Sow, center Nick Leverett, right guard Layden Robinson and right tackle Mike Onwenu.
Don’t fret about Andrews. He was inserted into the first-team grouping during short-yardage situations when Leverett moved into the backfield to play fullback.
Leverett actually caught a touchdown pass from Maye out of that alignment. Hooper was smiling after practice, noting that everyone leaves a big-man touchdown.
“Nick’s a natural, man. That’s fun when you see a big-man touchdown. Nothing gets the boys more juiced than a big-man touchdown. It is a truly beautiful thing. You guys were truly fortunate to witness that.”
Patriots backup guard Michael Jordan continues to work as a jumbo tight end in short-yardage situations.
Rookie offensive tackle Caedan Wallace saw work in a reserve role on both the left and right sides.
With maye under center late in 11-on-11s, Liam Fornadel rotated in to play center with Jordan seeing time at left guard, Wallace at left tackle and right tackle and Kellen Diesch at left tackle.
Ja’Lynn Polk still could begin the season as a starter, but the Patriots continue to mix K.J. Osborn into the starting grouping, as well. It would be pretty surprising if Tyquan Thornton and DeMario Douglas weren’t starters at this point.

Defensive notes

Beyond Pettus, cornerbacks Marco Wilson, Isaiah Bolden, Shaun Wade and Alex Austin all had pass breakups in practice against the scout-team offense, as well. Wilson, Bolden, Wade, Austin, Azizi Hearn and rookie Marcellas Dial are in the midst of a competition for roster spots.
Wilson and Wade’s breakups came against Landers. Bolden broke up a pass intended for Polk, and Austin defended a pass on a target to Kawaan Baker.
Linebacker Steele Chambers got more run with the first- and second-team defenses. He had impressive coverage on Stevenson while the starting running back was contributing to the scout-team offense.
Hawkins was in on a would-be sack during 11-on-11 drills, as well,
Hawkins will be the team’s third safety, assuming Marte Mapu still isn’t ready for the start of the season. Mapu has been sitting out of practice since the first week of training camp.

Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins makes a one-handed reception during practice outside Gillette Stadium on Saturday. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)

Special teams

There were no competitive kicks on Friday, so the competition between Joey Slye and Chad Ryland will have to wait until gameday.
A look at the Patriots’ current top kick return team: WR Javon Baker, DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr., LB Raekwon McMillan, S Dell Pettus, LB Christian Elliss, TE La’Michael Pettway, TE Jaheim Bell, S Brenden Schooler, CB Marcellas Dial
Kick return options: RB Antonio Gibson, WR Jalen Reagor, WR DeMario Douglas, RB JaMycal Hasty, WR K.J. Osborn, WR David Wallis, CB Marcus Jones, WR Ja’Lynn Polk, CB Isaiah Bolden, RB Kevin Harris
Patriots kickoff team in practice: Baker, Hasty, McMillan, Schooler, Elliss, Bolden, LB Jahlani Tavai, DE William Bradley-King, CB Marco Wilson, DE Kobe Jones and a kicker.
The Patriots practiced punting with a max protection team that included Schooler, Hasty, Tavai, Elliss, Dial, McMillan, LB Joe Giles-Harris, S Jaylinn Hawkins, S Joshuah Bledsoe, longsnapper Joe Cardona and punter Bryce Baringer.
Punt returners: Douglas, Polk, Wallis and Reagor

Extra points

Dial, Hooper, Peppers, Sow, Hasty and Polk spoke to reporters after practice
Owner Robert Kraft watched practice for just over 15 minutes. He came onto the field at 11:20 a.m.
The Patriots will hold a closed walk-through on Saturday before Sunday’s game.
The team will practice Wednesday and Thursday next week before getting Friday through Monday off on Labor Day Weekend.
Kenny Chesney will perform at Gillette Stadium this weekend. The practice playlist included some of Chesney’s songs.