Players to watch

QB Mac Jones

If Cam Newton remains sidelined with his right hand injury, Jones should see increased reps in team drills, the most valuable periods for any quarterback. To date, Jones has looked as advertised in those reps: quick to throw and process, accurate enough, with periodic rookie hesitation. Last Thursday, the coaching staff limited him to nine snaps in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work, though it would be a surprise to see them further limit the first-round rookie.

Everyone needs to learn more about what the kid can do.

LB Dont’a Hightower

Welcome back, captain.

Hightower participated in his first OTA practice Thursday, looking noticeably slimmer as he settled into his old spot in the middle of Belichick’s defense. The 31-year-old worked with a mix of backups and starters. It will be impossible to tell how well-suited Hightower is for rigors of the NFL strictly from minicamp, but if he continues to move well, that’s a good sign.

CB Stephon Gilmore

It’s possible Gilmore, who’s scheduled to make roughly half the money other elite corners will this season, could skip minicamp as a negotiating tactic to help earn himself a raise. If not, it bears watching how healthy he looks after a torn quad cut his 2020 season short.

Furthermore, Gilmore’s ability to shut down opposing No. 1 wideouts has been the starting point for most defensive game plans since late in the 2018 season. Having reloaded his defensive roster, will Belichick take the same approach in Gilmore’s age-31 season?.

Based on his performance last year, J.C. Jackson isn’t ready for that responsibility. In fairness, few corners are. But one of them already plays for the Patriots, and might beyond this season, if the two sides can strike a longer-term agreement.