It’s game week.

The Pats were on the fields behind Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon for the first of three practices prior to the first preseason game at home against Houston Thursday night. No pads on Sunday, but there was a good amount of stuff to take from the day…

-Thought it’d be a bigger crowd for a Sunday, but bleachers were still about 3/4 full. There’s definitely some things to be intrigued about for fans with this offense.

-Deatrich Wise Jr. was the first guy out today, just barely beating the usuals Bryce Baringer and Chad Ryland. Zappe was out about 5-10 minutes before Mac, who was still one of the first handful of guys to head up the steps and across the field towards the stands. Mac still gets the biggest ovation by far, but Matt Judon is a close second, who was also out early as usual playing catch with fans.

-Matt Slater, Trent Brown (present but didn’t partcipate), David Andrews, Jonathan Jones, and Cody Davis all didn’t practice, but it’s most likely just maintenance. Cole Strange is also still out after sustaining an injury a few days ago that doesn’t appear to be serious. Ty Montgomery remains out as well, which is a bit concerning given how last year went after he thrived early in camp. Mike Onwenu is still on PUP and Calvin Anderson was spotted but did not participate.

-Myles Bryant and Demario Douglas continued handling the early work from the punters before stretching. Douglas could be a real weapon as a punt returner, something the team hasn’t had since Edelman.

-Bill Belichick continues going with the red hoodie and it’s just a little soul crushing each time I see it. The fan part of me will never get over that day in February of 2008.

-It looks like Douglas may hav supplanted Tyquan Thornton as the fourth receiver. After stretching and during some indy work, Mac Jones threw to DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Douglas, Mike Gesicki and Hunter Henry. On the other end of the field, Thornton was part of the group working with Bailey Zappe.

-Around 1:30 we got the first bit of 7-on-7. Mac hit Gesicki on a crosser to open the period up, then the two connected on the play of the day when Gesicki hauled in a 40-ish yard ball with one hand down the right sideline with Jabrill Peppers in coverage. A bit of controversy with whether or not he got both feet down, but he was in. Dump off to Stevenson, quick out to Douglas, dump off to Pierre Strong and then a leaping pick from Christian Gonzalez while covering Kayshon Boutte ended Mac’s reps. Zappe had a rough day and it started early with an ugly incompletion deflecting off one of the big paddles coaches were using. Crosser to Douglas, incomplete to Sokol (Jack Jones in coverage), nice deep ball to Thornton down the left sideline against Adrian Phillips and two crossers to Raleigh Webb and Douglas.

-Time for 11-on-11 about 10 minutes later with Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ blaring. Mac: screen to Douglas, hitch Parker, handoff Stevenson, would-be sack for Judon (he was active all day, but remember the offensive line is currently in a tough spot), Bentley blows up a screen to Strong, Bentley would-be sack. Zappe: screen Thornton with heavy pressure from Carl Davis, Thornton screen, incomplete to the flat, handoff JJ Taylor, great pass break up by Josh Bledsoe on a deep ball to Thornton. Thornton reached up with two hands over his head while jumping to grab it, but Bledsoe finished the play and ripped it away.

-Marte Mapu had a tip-drill pick on a ball from McSorely towards the end of the period. He’s still in the red jersey, but you’re going to notice him early.

-Kickoff return for a bit. Peppers, Douglas and Marcus Jones back there. I still think Waitman’s going to get the job because of the lefty aspect and the different rotation (something it feels like Bill would love to have too, especially with diminishing returns on special teams plays in today’s NFL), but Baringer certainly hasn’t done anything to lose the job. He’s got a big leg as well, going to be interesting who does what on Thursday night, especially after Waitman kicked off in the in-stadium practice. Ryland also booted a few field goals at this point, he got every single team-period kick today and once again looks good.

-Back to 11-on-11, but this time in the red zone at 2:00. Mac: blown up screen (I think Bentley again), handoff to Stevenson, short hitch Henry, handoff to Stevenson, would-be Lawrence Guy sack, pass break up by Myles Bryant against Thornton on a jump ball in the end zone, severely underthrown, great PBU by Peppers on a fade in the back left corner of the end zone to Henry, finishing the play and knocking it out of his hands after a strong catch originally. Zappe: quick out to Anthony Firkser (possible would-be sack for White, would have been close), throwback TD to Sokol despite pressure from Mack Wilson, quick hitch Nixon. At this point, the entire defense ran a lap for some bad substitutions. Belichick gathered them together and talked to them for a minute or so before getting back into the session. Judon would-be sack, handoff to Strong, would-be Judon sack -although Boutte had a nice toe-tap grab in the back of the end zone – Ryland field goal (I think he went 2/3 here).

-One more period of uptempo – kind of two minute but I never actually saw just 2:00 on the clock – and each guy got one drive. Mac: Bourne drop against Christian Gonzalez (he admitted it was in his post-practice presser), incomplete Stevenson on the sideline, would-be Judon sack, quick screen to JuJu, quick pass to Henry, deep ball to Parker vs. Jack jones down the left sideline, great way to cap his competitive day. Zappe: dump to Stevenson, quick out to Gesicki, PBU for Rodney Randle Jr. in the end zone vs. Thornton (bad ball), Mapu PBU over the middle on a crosser for Gesicki (great play), quick slant Boutte, clock kill spike, short pass to Harris, incomplete fade in the end zone for Thornton, quick slant Harris, Shaun Wade INT.

-During that period Guy, Davis and Davon Godchaux worked on some pass rushing moves on the other field.

The team stretched and called it a day aside from a little more two minute work for McSorely and the threes and four’s and a few more minutes of some positional work for a few guys. QB’s and a lot of other offensive guys continue to stay after to get more work in for at least 15-20 minutes after the final break down of the team by Belichick. I believe they’ll be back in pads Monday and/or Tuesday (open to the public at 1 PM, gates open at noon) before a day off prior to Thursday nights game. These are the true dog days of summer, but the regular season will be in sight after Thursday.