During a normal season, the Patriots would be playing their first preseason game Thursday night.
But now given the times, the team had their first training camp practice Wednesday on the grass fields behind Gillette Stadium. It was in helmets and shells, but coaches were allowed to be present. To this point, it was strictly strength and conditioning work and coaches could not be present.
Speaking via video conference afterwards, several Patriots players were asked about the session.
“It was great,” starting right guard Shaq Mason said. “Naturally, nobody’s played football since we last were all together. I think more than anything, it was just great energy. Everybody’s just excited to get back out on the football field to grind. When we haven’t been able to go out there as a unit and do things as a whole, but today, it was good to get all of the guys out there. It was all smiles, high energy. We were all glad to get back.”
Running back Rex Burkhead shared similar thoughts.
“It was great,” he said. “It really was just to get out there, put the helmets on, move around at a faster tempo. We’ve just been doing walk-throughs, and in the spring, we couldn’t do anything. I think everyone’s itching to get out there at a little faster pace, and it was nice. … It’s really cool to actually see guys out on the field moving around, getting to know them more in person.”
Full-padded practices will begin Monday and some media will be present.
Related
