FOXBOROUGH – We’ve made it. Almost.

The Patriots officially wrap up preseason on Friday night with a final exhibition game against the Titans, but on Wednesday, the team held its final practice of preseason behind Gillette Stadium.

The team was in pads and went for about two full hours. There wasn’t a ton of heavy lifting, but some good work overall as they prepare to fly to Nashville on Thursday. Here’s what the media saw in what was also the last practice open to all of us this season. It’ll just be stretching and a few drills between now and (hopefully) late January…

-Punters Corliss Waitman and Bryce Baringer – who both had pretty good days on Wednesday – were the first guys out about 20 minutes before anyone else.

-Mac was out soon thereafter while Deatrich Wise, Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and Riley Reiff got a few early reps on the sleds.

-Jalen Mills was back, one of the first guys out as usual and was a full go after a bit of an injury scare on Tuesday. Mike Gesicki was back again in a red non-contact jersey. Ty Montgomery was back again. Mike Onwenu returned off PUP. Cole Strange was in attendance but not in pads. Trey Flowers, Jon Jones, Demario Douglas were all up top. No sight of Tyquan Thornton (uh oh…) and obviously Isaiah Bolden.

-Judon was messing around trying to catch punts in the bright red hoodie as guys warmed up.

-Light work to open up the day. 1-on-1’s (sort of). Saw Bourne snatch a slant from Zappe in front of Gonzalez, Parker caught an out from Mac against Brad Hawkins, Montgomery caught an out from Mac vs. Marcus Jones, Gesicki snatched a slant from Zappe (didn’t see against who), slant for Bourne from Mac (didn’t see vs. who) and Gesicki grabbed an out from Mac against Kyle Dugger. The defensive line and LB’s worked separately on the other end of the field during this session.

-During some punt work, Corliss Waitman let a lefty bomb go that was muffed by Kayshon Boutte, who then had to run a lap. Both guys showed their leg strength at various points in the practice and both guys showed an ability to pin the ball inside the 10. Friday might sneaky be a huge night for those two guys.

-The offense had a lot of positive energy throughout practice, especially during the first “drive” for Mac in a team period. The drive went handoff to Stevenson, quick look to Bourne, run stuff for Judon, Godchaux sack (Mac ended up hitting Bourne on a deep post jump ball here. Bourne was all fired up after the catch), Peppers sack, runs for Zeke and Kevin Harris, another deep jump ball to Bourne with Quandre Mosely, runs for JJ Taylor and Zeke. Zappe got one rep at the end of the drive, a handoff to Stevenson.

-Bourne had an excellent day. With last year behind him, he should be a huge factor in this offense for Mac in 2023.

-After alternating punts for Baringer and Waitman, Nick Folk went 1/2 on field goals from about 35-40 yards out. The miss was wide right. Ryland didn’t kick at all during team periods.

-With Springsteen in town this weekend the Boss was blasting as Pats went to red zone work. Mac again got a ton of work, which may indicate we may not see him very long (if it all) on Friday night. A quick out to JuJu, short TD pass to Stevenson, incomplete back right corner of the end zone for Stevenson (pressure up the middle), Zeke short run, short TD pass to Zeke (flat), Kendrick Bourne TD, Parker TD on crosser in back of the end zone, short TD run for Stevenson.

-Folk went 2-2 in field goals at this point. Still think it should be Ryland’s job. Very interesting to see which guy takes meaningful kicks on Friday.

-Little more red zone work at this point. Saw Zappe get “sacked” by Dan Ekuale and Malik Cunningham had a short TD run at QB.

-One more full team drive with Mac at the helm late. Handoff Stevenson, out to Stevenson, deep ball to Firkser (great play with Peppers in coverage, like a deep post corner), run Stevenson, Marcus Jones blows up a screen, Hunter Henry would-be deep TD (wide ass open down the right seam), Judon sack (completed late to Bourne on an out), Stevenson hand off, dump off Stevenson, Judon sack, JuJu short TD catch on a slant, Parker jump ball TD against Myles Bryant, TD run Zeke.

-Folk missed another kick here (I believe he was 5-8 on the day) coming up wide right and short.

Zappe got some run at this point and dropped an absolute dime into the bucket in the back left corner of the end zone, being as short as I am I couldn’t see who hauled it in. Folk added another miss left late too.

-Two minute work to wrap things up around 2:45. Mac had a few completions to Henry and two TD’s to Parker and Bourne during multiple reps from certain places on the field. Marte Mapu had a nice pass break up at one point and Christian Gonzalez limped off late and was looked at by trainers. Seemed okay. Henry was also banged up and wasn’t seen on the field during the last few minutes.

We’re almost there ladies and gentlemen. Week 1 is in our sights. There’s still plenty of questions to be answered Friday night before the real fun starts.