Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel and what to expect from Patriots training camp 2025

Welcome back!

Football returns to Foxboro on Wednesday, with the start of yet another new era in New England and another Patriots training camp.

Rookies reported to team headquarters over the weekend, while all veteran players must report Tuesday to take physicals and conditioning tests. The Patriots’ first practice will begin Wednesday at 10:15 a.m., when new head coach Mike Vrabel is also scheduled to meet the media. On the field, Drake Maye will work the controls of Josh McDaniels’ revamped offense, while a reloaded defense rehearses the ins and outs of Vrabel’s scheme.

And might new No. 1 receiver Stefon Diggs be a full participant, now almost completely recovered from an ACL tear?

Here’s what to expect from another summer at 1 Patriot Place:

Who

All players must report by Tuesday, and all healthy players will suit up Wednesday morning.

A few veterans, however, should be missing.

Over the weekend, the Patriots placed wide receiver Mack Hollins, tight end Austin Hooper, linebacker Jahlani Tavai and offensive tackle Vederian Lowe on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. Hooper and Tavai were banged up during Organized Team Activities (OTAs), when Tavai suffered a calf injury during one of the team’s last practices in June and had to be helped off the field by teammates. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported shortly after the injury Tavai could be cleared in time for training camp. Hollins and Lowe did not participate in most of the team’s spring practices open to the media.

Diggs was notably absent from this list, though it’s unclear if he has taken a physical with the team, which would have prompted his teammates’ placement on PUP. Diggs was a limited participant at OTAs and mandatory minicamp in June. He engaged in individual drills, but was held out of full-team periods.

The Patriots also placed cornerback Carlton Davis III, wide receiver Jeremiah Webb and undrafted rookie safety Josh Minkins on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list. The NFI list is reserved for players who suffered injuries or illness outside of team activities. Davis did not appear at most voluntary spring practices open to reporters. It is unclear when any of them can be expected to return.

What

The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement mandates the Patriots can only hold non-padded practices from July 23-26 as part of a ramping-up period in camp. Practices during this window typically increase in intensity before a mandatory off day for players, which this year falls on Sunday.

Upon players’ return on Monday, July 28, the team can run its first padded practice of the summer. Padded practices feature physical 1-on-1 drills pitting wide receivers against cornerbacks, running backs and tight ends versus defensive backs and offensive linemen against defensive linemen. The team will often then build toward 7-on-7 periods, which are less physical, then full-on contact in 11-on-11 drills.

Red-zone drills during padded practice are typically a highlight for visiting fans, who can see the action up close from bleacher seats running parallel to one of two practice fields. The Patriots will also host the Commanders for a joint, padded practice on Aug. 6 and a preseason game in Gillette Stadium on Aug. 8.