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Stidham limited at Pats’ padded practice; young WRs ready for Year 2

By Gethin Coolbaugh and Kyle Hightower
Associated Press
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady’s departure has created a void the New England Patriots might need two quarterbacks to fill. One of those quarterbacks appears to be dealing with a setback that could hinder his chances to win Brady’s old job.

Second-year pro Jarrett Stidham was limited at Friday’s practice for the first time since the Patriots began the padded portion of training camp. Stidham was in uniform for the non-padded practice, but watched from the sideline with his helmet in his hand while standing next to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for much of the team’s combined scrimmage.

The Patriots don’t appear too concerned about the 2019 fourth-round pick’s status.

“Coach (Bill Belichick) held him today, but I’m pretty sure he’ll be out there ready to roll the next time we practice,” McDaniels said afterward.

The 24-year-old Stidham is competing with veteran Brian Hoyer and recently signed 2015 MVP Cam Newton for the starting job. On Wednesday, Belichick said he would consider a two-quarterback system if that’s “what gives us the best chance to win.”

Stidham struggled early on in camp to gain a rhythm with his receivers, throwing multiple interceptions. Belichick downplayed the quarterback’s miscues as simply knocking off some offseason rust.

“I think in the early stages there’s definitely a timing, confidence, anticipation issues that are different from player to player,” Belichick said before practice. “The first day or two, three, whatever, is not as critical as going forward when you’ve been through things multiple times.”

Stidham was the last quarterback on the field Friday and started his day taking snaps from an unguarded center alongside Hoyer and Newton.

He progressed to throwing with Hoyer at roughly 15 yards apart and later threw short crossing routes as Newton and Hoyer worked with other receivers on downfield passes.

The only deep throws Stidham made Friday were to a coach on an adjacent practice field as the punt teams worked on the main field.

“You want to have the perfect day at practice, you want to have the perfect game, but I also believe it’s an imperfect game we’re playing,” Patriots quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch said about Stidham.

Fisch said he was unaware of any significant injuries in the quarterback room.

Newton and Hoyer split first-team reps during the team period of practice, with each orchestrating downfield drives.

“As we’re going through the evaluation of the quarterbacks, we’re just trying to make sure they’re all getting similar plays — not worry too much about rep counts, per se,” Fisch said.

McDaniels has been impressed with Newton’s ability to adapt to his new surroundings nearly two months after joining the team.

“We added him basically in July, and I think he’s really busted his butt to try to learn and grow each day he’s been with us,” McDaniels said.

McDaniels didn’t tip his hand as to which direction the Patriots are leaning at quarterback, but said he is itching for an answer.

“As soon as the decision is made, then obviously that’s an opportunity to start going in a specific direction,” he said.

Pats’ young WRs say they’re ready to contribute in Year 2

One of the things Rob Gronkowski’s absence in the Patriots’ offense last season highlighted was the inexperience in their receiving group.

A looming presence at 6-foot-6, Gronk was a threat to make big plays whenever he was on the field and he in turn opened throwing lanes for his teammates.

But without him the offense suffered as Tom Brady struggled to build chemistry with rookie receivers N’Keal Harry, Gunner Olszewski and Jakobi Meyers.

Brady’s departure, a disjointed offseason and truncated training camp have created more issues for New England’s offense in 2020. But those are challenges the trio feels more equipped to tackle in Year 2.

“I think I learned just like everybody else did last year,” said Olszewski, who converted to receiver as a rookie after playing cornerback in college. “We’re all new receivers in the NFL. And this is our second year as NFL receivers. I don’t consider myself more behind or ahead of anybody. I’ve been a receiver since I’ve been here, and that’s the position I play.”

As Brady worked to cultivate trust with the new faces on offense last season, veteran Julian Edelman did his best to pick up the slack, leading the Patriots with 100 catches for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns.

But the remaining seven receivers on the roster combined for only 117 catches and 10 touchdowns. Harry, the Patriots’ first-round pick in 2019, had two of those TDs but played just seven games before going on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

While it wasn’t the rookie season he expected, Harry said he’s taken a lot of lessons from it.

“I learned that in the NFL, you have to prove yourself day in and day out,” he said. “This is a league where nothing is given to you. You earn everything day by day. That’s my approach coming into this season and that’s my approach stepping on to the field every day.”

One of the things Harry focused on during the time off was his footwork, enlisting the help of trainer Rischad Whitfield, known as “The Footwork King” while working out this summer in Houston. According to Next Gen Stats, Harry ranked last among Patriots receivers with an average of 2.2 separation yards.

Receiver Mohamed Sanu said he’s already noticed improvement from Harry.

“I know he works at it every day. He’s trying to get better at the little details. Asks great questions. As a second-year player, that’s what you want to do,” Sanu said. “I know we want to get better and better at all the little, minor details — the intricacies in the offense. It’s great. All of the receivers — not just N’Keal — are working toward the same goal: trying to be consistent every day, snap after snap, play after play, meeting, walkthrough. I love it.”

Even with the pandemic impacting the offseason program, Meyers said he, Harry and Olzewski all stayed in touch and were the first to raise their hands when quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer reached out to organize some informal throwing sessions. They did the same with Cam Newton after he signed.

Meyers said he feels as if the bonds they began building last season and during those workouts this summer will benefit them going forward.

“I feel like we’re getting more comfortable with understanding what we have to bring to the team,” Meyers said. “This is a business. I feel like the more we’re around each other, the more we get comfortable with each other. We’ve got to understand this is a business and one day we could be here and one day we couldn’t be.”

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