Pats Pulpit
Cleaning out the notebook from the Patriots’ first practice of training camp.
On Wednesday, the New England Patriots took the practice fields for the first time all summer to kick off their 2025 training camp. The 90-minute session in shorts and shells was mostly a continuation of offseason workouts, but it still provided fans with a first taste of what the team might eventually look like under new head coach Mike Vrabel.
To recap the session, please make sure to check out Pats Pulpit beat writer Brian Hines’ Training Camp Notebook. Before we turn our attention to Day 2, however, let’s clean out that notebook to put an official wrap on Wednesday.
Practice recap | Performances of note | Mike Vrabel on camp objectives | Drake Maye on loser fatigue | Stefon Diggs on Drake Maye connection | Milton Williams on leadership | Patriots defenders on Terrell Williams’ return | Pats Pulpit Training Camp Guide
Full participant Stefon Diggs setting an early tone in training camp: When the Patriots revealed their physically unable to perform and non-football injury lists over the weekend, Stefon Diggs’ name was nowhere to be seen. The veteran wide receiver had been fully cleared for training camp despite tearing the ACL in his right knee just nine months earlier.
On Wednesday, Diggs already was an active participant and finished with a pair of receptions from quarterback Drake Maye. More so than his production, his smooth movements and lack of any noticeable limitations stood out.
For Diggs, Day 1 of camp therefore was a promising start.
“Right now at this very moment, considering I’m coming off an injury, I’m super excited to play football,” he explained. “But earning the respect of my teammates, earning the respect of my coaches, getting back out here, being the leader I know that I am — that’s all I want to be right now. I’m going to take it day-by-day.”
Diggs’ presence was immediately felt. He received a huge ovation from the crowd when entering the field shortly after 10 a.m. and during the session made sure to bring that same energy.
“A lot of boost,” said fellow wideout DeMario Douglas. “He has the energy, and he has that dawg. All it takes is one play for somebody to get it going. So, if he makes a play I’m right behind him making a play. If make a play, he’s right behind me to make a play. But that’s for the whole room — the whole room is going to feed off each other. Diggs brings that dawg and that leadership to the room. ...
“He talks a lot of junk, but that’s good. You need that. He’s a constructive criticism type of guy. He’s going to tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. That’s what you need.”
Diggs gave an insight into this approach during his post-practice presser as well.
“A lot of people want to throw...
