It was a Louisiana scorcher for the first day of mandatory minicamp, but the team got outside all the same for the first workout with 100% attendance of the offseason.
Everyone was in the building at some point Tuesday, Dennis Allen said. The most notable face out at practice was Michael Thomas, who stood along the sidelines wearing his No. 13 jersey to watch for the first time this offseason with the media present. He even stopped to take a selfie with some fans milling about afterward.
Thomas' presence isn't necessarily a sign that he'll be back on the field this week. The plan all along has been for training camp next month. But is undoubtedly a positive thing to see him out there at any rate, considering the rift that seemed to exist last offseason around this time.
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TAKING ATTENDANCE
Everyone was in the building, but not everyone was on the field. As mentioned, Thomas wasn't involved in practice even though he was out there, and safety Marcus Maye continues to get in limited work as he rehabs from an Achilles injury.
The key names who WERE back after not appearing at OTA sessions: LB Demario Davis, LT James Hurst, CB Marshon Lattimore, CB Bradley Roby, S CJ Gardner-Johnson, RB Alvin Kamara.
Players who DID NOT practice: DE Marcus Davenport, DE Payton Turner, WR Michael Thomas, TE Taysom Hill, DT Taco Charlton, CB Dylan Maybin
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BOBBY'S PLAY OF THE DAY
As will likely happen often, Jarvis Landry flashed for the top play of the day. It came during team drills with backup QB Andy Dalton finding the veteran WR who had beaten CB Bryce Thompson in coverage. It'd have gone for a 50-yard touchdown, and it wasn't Landry's only highlight play.
He caught a handful of passes from Winston during drills, and even a nice one-handed grab on a downfield route. He's simply always finding a way to get open and the ball finds him often.
“I could see Jameis Winston to Jarvis Landry or Andy Dalton to Jarvis Landry, he’ll make both quarterbacks look good,” Bobby Hebert said after practice.
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BRYCE THOMPSON ALL OVER THE PLACE (in a good way)
While he got beat on the Landry play noted above, Bryce Thompson has made a positive impression thus far, particularly when it comes to versatility. The 2nd-year DB out of Tennessee has seen time as corner, nickel and free safety already.
Allen noted the young player's positional options after practice, and that's always a solid feather to have for a young player battling for a roster spot.
“Man, the more you can do the best chance you have to make the team,” WWL analyst Mike Detillier said.
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HURST TAKES FIRST REPS
The race at LT will be one of the key position battles to watch this offseason, and veteran James Hurst got the first crack at the first-team reps with everyone in attendance. Rookie Trevor Penning has gotten plenty of reps in at the OTA sessions, so it'll be interesting to see whether those reps cycle from day-to-day throughout this week or the larger camp.
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DAVENPORT UPDATE
We're yet to see Marcus Davenport in practice yet this offseason, but he was at the facility for at least one of the OTA sessions getting treatment. His coach said he's working back from issues regarding his shoulder and finger. He's one of several players aiming for a training camp debut.