Patriots Preseason Begins Thursday

By: Steve Atkinson,

The Patriots begin their preseason on Thursday when they host the Houston Texans. There are two more training camp practices left before the preseason game Monday and Tuesday in the afternoon. Sunday’s practice was Mac Jones working with the first team and then standing next to Bill O’Brien while Zappe worked with the second team. The biggest question right now is the offensive line. Half the guys were missing today, Trent Brown, David Andrews, Michael Onwenu and Cole Strange. Replacing them Sunday was Riley Reiff, Atonio Mafi, James Ferentz, Kody Russey, and Conor McDermott. The top offensive line struggled to protect Mac in the redzone on Sunday during practice.

If the offensive line can’t protect Mac, then the whole operation could be in shambles. The Patriots work a lot on the quick short passing game because of the weak offensive line. There was a play where Mac Jones found DeVante Parker for a touchdown on Sunday he was covered by Jack Jones. The pass was 40 yards. The question is who will be playing on Thursday night.

Patriots Will Probably Play Starters Thursday Night

I could probably guess right now that starting quarterback Mac Jones will start the game Thursday followed by Bailey Zappe for an extended amount of time. Then McSorely will follow probably in the second half of the third quarter until the end of the game. Bill O’Brien is in command of the offense, and it seems that everyone is buying in.

Kendrick Bourne hears the noise that the receivers “Stink Stank and Stunk.” That comment was made by Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal on NBC Boston.

A lot of confidence. We’ve got a lot of doubters. So we’ve got a lot to prove. I’m excited. It feels good to be the underdog sometimes because they don’t know we’re coming,” Bourne said. “We’ve put in the work behind closed doors. A lot of things are said. But we put in the work so we know how we feel, we know what we’re capable of. It’s not just us receivers. It’s all of us as a group.” Stink, stunk, and stank,” he said with a smile before walking away.

Patriots Receivers Hear The Noise

"What have you seen at the receiver position?"

"Stink, stank, and stunk."@MikeGiardi not holding back breaking down what he's seen from the Patriots' wide receivers in camp so far ? pic.twitter.com/fV2fBEb4BW

— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) August 1, 2023

Kendrick Bourne isn’t the only one that hears the noise so does Mac Jones. I’ve been saying for months that he is set out to prove the doubters wrong that he can play in the league. Starting with Bill Belichick who will still not name him quarterback one while the Patriots social media team promotes him like he’s the starter. Mac and the entire offense should be better than last year and if the offensive line is as weak as it seems then they’ll be a lot of getting the ball out quickly.

“Stink, Stank, Stunk”

Kendrick Bourne ? pic.twitter.com/snCeHTYg9c

— Savage (@SavageSports_) August 6, 2023

That will be good for Demario Douglas who reminds me of a Welker or Edelman. He is short, fast and can get open over the middle. Thorton is long and doesn’t seem to get open over the middle as much. For Douglas though he could be used a lot for those short pass situations over the middle. He can also gain yards after the catch. I expect him to be out there with the starters on Thursday night against the Texans.

Matthew Judon is happy he got his pay raise now expected to make $14 million guaranteed this year. He spoke after practice on Sunday. I also expect him to play on Thursday.

“Me and the guys upstairs got something done as far as my contract,” Judon said after Sunday’s training camp practice. “I’m happy. They’re happy. We shook hands, and now we’re playing football.” I think it represents that they want to keep me around here or keep me happy,” Judon said. “Or just representing that they’ve seen what I did and they appreciate it, for the organization.

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