FOXBOROUGH – For the final time before their first preseason game, the Pats were back at practice on a muggy Tuesday afternoon. This one was a bit different as the team was inside Gillette Stadium for the second time in five days, this time for a public practice.

Here’s what stood out as the team prepared for the Washington Football Team…


-As fans entered the stadium the very first song playing was “most wonderful time of the year,” it wasn’t Christmas but it sure feels like it as fans return to stadiums.

-Jake Bailey was the first guy out on Tuesday, followed by new long snapper Brian Khoury

-Safety Adrian Colbert (wearing a red non-contact jersey) did almost a full lap around the field, waiving his arms to try and get the crowd jacked up. His energy has been very apparent almost every day in camp.

-David Andrews, Hunter Henry, Joe Cardona, Nelson Agholor, Christian Barmore and Tyler Gaffney were all absent on Tuesday. Andrews was absent due to the birth of his new baby boy, James Ford Andrews. Congratulations to David and his family.

-Th Bryant University football team was on hand in the stands, rocking gold t-shirts. Don’t forget to check out nefootballjournal.com for our Bryant College Camp Tour coverage from Monday.

-Sony Michel and Damien Harris both look more explosive than I remember, particularly when hitting the hole. Hopefully it sticks.

-JC Jackson had a pass break up on a throw from Hoyer in early, very light 11-on-11 work, he literally has been everywhere during camp and if Gilmore’s still gone he’ll need to keep it up.

-There was a new No. 19 on the field on Tuesday, safety Malik Gant.

-Cam and Mac each had a few nice throws in a 6-on-7 period where the offense was a player short, but none of the throws were anything to marvel at.

-Following that period, I noticed Cam and Jonnu going over routes on the sideline, with Cam mimicking running one particular route.

-At the tail end of some lengthy punt work, Bailey pinned one deep and Cam made a golf swing motion as if Bailey stuck one close to the flag.

-There were two odd points late during 11-on-11 where Mac and Brian Hoyer took all the reps in one portion, then in a later portion it was Cam and Hoyer taking the reps without Mac drawing a snap. Ideally, you hope that all the reps for Hoyer on Tuesday mean more action for Mac on Thursday night.

-During that period, some players were handing kids gloves and a few other little take-homes from the sidelines. Autographs are not allowed this year, but coming out to the field guys were fist bumping kids in the stands with their helmets too, so it’s nice to see them still trying to put some effort into the fan interaction.

-With 1:00 on the clock towards the tail end of practice Mac again showed phenomenal command of the two-minute offense, swiftly moving downfield with completions to Wilkerson, Devin Asiasi and Jonnu Smith. Cam didn’t get any looks in two minute as Hoyer took over the final portion of the period.

-Quinn Nordin closed out the practice cutting on another show inside Gillette. Nordin went 4-for-4, including a 48-yarder. Kicking in the stadium (albeit on uncontested kicks) Nordin is now 14-14 and continues to build his case why he should have the job over Nick Folk.

-The players saluted the fans in hockey-style fashion at the end of practice before exiting the field.

The next time the Pats step on the field at Gillette it will be for a real football game in front of a full stadium for the first time in a long time. Tuesday’s practice was only about an hour and a half. It feels like coach Belichick believes his guys are as ready as they can be for their first game on Thursday.

That’s when the real fun starts.