Following a walkthrough session, the New England Patriots turned up the tempo for their fourth training camp practice on July 28, 2026, behind Gillette Stadium. Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte starred with a deep touchdown catch, while second-year edge rusher Elijah Ponder and lineman Will Campbell also delivered standout performances.
The New England Patriots returned to high-intensity work during a two-hour session that marked their most competitive outing of the summer thus far. Coming off a load-management walkthrough, the team put on shell pads and ramped up the physicality ahead of their first scheduled off-day of the training camp schedule.
Kayshon Boutte Dominates Training Camp With Another Deep Score
Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte continued his dominant run through the opening week of practices. Lining up in his usual X-receiver role during 11-on-11 team drills, the fourth-year pass catcher secured a deep touchdown throw of over 40 yards from quarterback Drake Maye after getting a step on safety Kevin Byard.
According to Patspulpit, Boutte displayed exceptional ball tracking and concentration to complete the over-the-shoulder grab. That explosive play was complemented by a reception over the middle from Maye in 7-on-7s and a pair of out-route catches hauled in from backup quarterback Tommy DeVito.
The standout sequence followed strong observations from Boston Sports Journal, which noted that Boutte effectively authored the play of the day for the third straight real practice session. Meanwhile, fellow wideout A.J. Brown saw increased involvement with three receptions, including a pair of slants and a precise hitch route that created separation from the covering cornerback.
Will Campbell and Elijah Ponder Anchor Trench Improvements
In the trenches, left tackle Will Campbell showcased significant progress during 1-on-1 pass rush drills conducted at two-thirds speed. As Boston Sports Journal detailed, the young lineman won both of his monitored 1-on-1 reps, earning victories against Dre’Mont Jones and Bradyn Swinson.
That positive momentum arrives after a heavily scrutinized rookie campaign in which Campbell battled through a Grade 3 MCL sprain suffered on Nov. 23 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Medical timelines indicate that a complete tear typically demands 12 weeks or longer of recovery, yet Campbell returned to action within six weeks.
According to data from providencejournal.com and aol.com, that rapid comeback coincided with surrendering 29 postseason pressures—the most ever recorded by Next Gen Stats since 2016, including 14 allowed in the Super Bowl. Despite those postseason struggles against top-ten scoring defenses, team management has kept him firmly entrenched at the blindside spot.
On the defensive side of the ball, second-year edge rusher Elijah Ponder stepped into the starting lineup to fill in for the absent Harold Landry. Patspulpit reported that Ponder generated a would-be sack and forced a holding penalty against Caleb Lomu, highlighting a productive camp as the defense adjusts to injuries among its pass-rushing corps.
Veteran Workloads and Special Teams Notes
Veteran right tackle Morgan Moses returned to full participation after sitting for most of Sunday’s practice.
On special teams, long snapper Julian Ashby drew a rare mention after delivering a low snap on a field goal attempt, which forced kicker Andy Borregales to hook a 45-yard try wide left Patspulpit.
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