New England Patriots links 8/20/25: Pass rush accelerates from zero to very good

TEAM TALK

• Roster Moves: Sign: RB Micah Bernard & DT Philip Blidi; Release: CB Tre Avery & DE Jereme Robinson.
• Mike Dussault reports that defensive coordinator Terrell Williams is back on the field, fully engaged and in command after missing much of the offseason due to a health issue.
• Press Conferences: VP of Player Personnel Ryan Cowden – Defensive coaches: Terrell Williams – Clint McMillan, Justin Hamilton, Mike Smith, Scott Booker, and Zak Kuhr.
• Press Conferences: Joshua Farmer, Kayshon Boutte, Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson and TreVeyon Henderson – Brenden Schooler, Jared Wilson, and Will Campbell.
• Patriots Unfiltered: Vikings leftovers, practice observations, injury updates, Giants preview. (2 hrs)
• Photos: Patriots practice Aug. 18 & 19.

LOCAL LINKS

• Karen Guregian explores whether the Patriots have really fixed their pass rush problem and determines that they’re on the right track. ‘Basically, they have a stable of good, to potentially very good pass rushers. They don’t, however, have an elite rusher who instantly draws added attention.‘ …More.
• Mike Reiss shares the latest intel & updates from camp: Terrell Williams wants the defense to be more consistent; Drake Maye didn’t throw a pick and finished practice with a successful two-minute drill that ended with a 40-ish-yard field-goal. Two of Maye’s best throws in practice were up the right seam to tight ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper; …More!
• Andrew Callahan‘s Day 18 camp takeaways: Drake Maye finishes two-minute drill despite heavy pressure; Player of the Day: Christian Barmore. ‘He was a menace.’ …More!
• Mark Daniels gives us 7 takeaways from action-packed Day 18 of training camp. K’Lavon Chaisson looks like a starter, Stefon Diggs gets involved, O-line rotation, …More!
• Alex Barth‘s Day 18 camp notebook: Situational bounce-back, Defensive front takes over, Offense completes late-game situation, Ben Brown still in the mix, Catch of the Day; …More!
• Andrew Callahan relays Patriots OLB coach Mike Smith calling Elijah Ponder “probably one of the best undrafted free agent pickups” I’ve ever seen. “He was a guy that nobody was looking at, but if you look at his athletic ability, it’s off the charts. He’s a big rusher. He moves great in space. He’s not scared to go put his face right down the middle if you saw him in a game. But he’s got this very rare ability of picking up things quickly and looking like he’s done it from Day 1. It’s just remarkable.”
• Phil Perry‘s Maye Watch: Mike Vrabel is trying to get his QB to avoid ‘senseless hits’.
• Andrew Callahan reports that according to league sources, Kyle Dugger and Anfernee Jennings are known to be available for trade with less than a week left until the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline.
• Doug Kyed notes Pats DC Terrell Williams says he sees Kyle Dugger, Anfernee Jennings as fits on defense.
• Alex Barth notes the Patriots made a couple of roster moves, adding depth at RB and DT.
• Sean T. McGuire...