Brady will sit out opener
Did work in joint practices
The 42-year-old Brady dominated the reps over the two days of joint practices. As to be expected in the earliest stages of the season, the Patriots offense is still figuring itself out. One positive: Brady has established a connection with undrafted rookie receiver Jakobi Meyers, who lined up opposite
Phillip Dorsett in two-receiver sets all week.
The highlight of the week for Brady was a long touchdown heave to Dorsett in the two-minute drill on Tuesday. Brady dropped the ball perfectly over Dorsett’s shoulder for the score. Just two plays earlier, Brady was nearly picked off while throwing a deep ball for Dorsett, who needed to make a play on the ball to prevent the interception.
“It’s trust,” Dorsett said yesterday. “I mean, if you throw it up there, hopefully the receiver can make a play for you. Obviously, I didn’t get the first one, but we got the second one. It’s the trust we have. We’ve got to keep going. There’s still a long way to go.”
With so many new receivers in the fold, Brady can lean on Dorsett.
“Yeah, I believe I am one person he can trust,” Dorsett said. “Obviously, we’ve made some plays in the past, some critical plays in the past. I just feel like we’ve got to keep going.”
There were some rough moments for Brady and the offense throughout the week, as well. Brady was intercepted by Lions linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin during a goal line 7-on-7 drill Tuesday. Later in the practice, a promising two-minute drive stalled at the Detroit 7-yard line with three consecutive incompletions.
“It’s nice to get some real fresh competition and see where you match up against a team that really beat us up pretty good last year,” Brady said Monday. “It’s good competition for us. We need it and it’s just another step in the process with the preparation that we need to get ready for when the season starts.”
Harry at practice
Patriots rookie receiver
N’Keal Harry was present at yesterday’s walkthrough after suffering an apparent hamstring injury on Tuesday.
Harry exited during an 11on-11 drill and limped to the sideline, where he consulted with head trainer Jim
Whalen. After stretching out his right leg and jogging on the adjacent field, Harry returned to action for a few reps. He did not participate in the final period of Tuesday’s practice.
That Harry was in uniform for the walkthrough is an indication he’s not dealing with a serious injury. Still, his status for tonight’s game is unclear.
Of the players not on an injury list, tight end Lance
Kendricks was the only absence yesterday. Running back Rex Burkhead was present but not in uniform. He stood to the side with receivers Julian Edelman and Demaryius Thomas.
This was not a competitive practice. Players were in shells and shorts. The Pats and Lions ran plays at halfspeed for about an hour before calling it a day.
Old pal checks in
Brady’s future with the Patriots will be one of the most intriguing storylines of the 2019 season. After signing a contract extension with two void years, Brady is playing on an expiring deal for the first time in his career.
So is he year-to-year at this point?
Lions receiver Danny
Amendola, who was one of the Pats’ go-to guys from 2013-17, believes Brady will go for as long as he wants.
“He can play forever,” Amendola said. “Perhaps we should stop putting a deadline on it. The guy’s in great shape, great condition. Obviously, he can (still) throw the ball really well. … I’m excited to see how far he wants to go and how long he wants to play, as well.”
After spending one season in Miami, Amendola signed with Detroit this past spring. He projects as the Lions’ top slot receiver.
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — For the fourth consecutive year, Tom Brady will get the night off in the Patriots’ preseason opener, according to a source.
This was the expectation all along, as Brady and the starters put in two competitive joint practices against the Lions this week. Backup
Brian Hoyer handled the first quarterback reps during yesterday’s walkthrough. Rookie Jarrett Stidham should also see time when the Pats take on the Lions in tonight’s preseason opener.
Brady has sat out of the first preseason game in four of the past five years. He played in 2015, but at that time the Pats were bracing for Brady’s four-game suspension, so they wanted to get him additional reps in the preseason.