The Patriots held their first fully padded practice of training camp Monday, and a few storylines are already drawing attention.
Let’s start with rookie left tackle Will Campbell, the No. 4 overall pick. Monday brought a classic “Welcome to the NFL” moment for him. For offensive linemen, it’s always hard to get a true read during OTAs or early camp practices without pads. But when the pads came on, Keion White got the better of Campbell—at one point putting him on the ground.
Naturally, people on X and local radio immediately jumped on this. The “short arms” conversation is back, along with all the other draft-day critiques that have followed Campbell.
What most aren’t mentioning, though, is how Campbell responded. According to multiple reporters in attendance, he bounced back and started to settle in after those early reps. That matters more. It’s a rookie’s first full-contact NFL practice—of course there will be bumps. Campbell himself said in a pre-draft interview that during the first play of his college career, he got his “face ran through.” He went on to become the best lineman in his class.
Let him get tossed to the ground now—better here than in Week 1.
Another name worth spotlighting is Ja’Lynn Polk. After struggling with drops last season and missing the first week of camp, Polk suited up for full pads Monday and made the most of it. He hauled in a wide-open touchdown from Drake Maye off a play-action pass.
Polk’s roster spot is far from a lock—I don’t have him on my own projection right now—but he’s a second-round pick with clear talent. He’ll need a strong camp and preseason to stick. Maybe having Stefon Diggs in the receiver room helps him settle in and grow.
The final clip that made the rounds on X came from running back TreVeyon Henderson, who cooked safety Kyle Dugger in a one-on-one drill. Yes, it’s a drill that favors the offense—no sideline, no help—but Henderson’s juke was clean. He sent Dugger the wrong way and shot upfield.
Henderson’s speed in space is his biggest weapon. Give him a crease and he can turn a 5-yard gain into 50. Now that he’s officially signed his rookie contract, the hope is that he and Rhamondre Stevenson will form a classic “thunder and lightning” backfield combo.
More clips will hit the timeline. More takes will flood the radio. Just remember: it’s only the first week of padded practice.
