Patriots begin 2026 training camp with zone run focus and full participation from cornerback Christian Gonzalez

New England Patriots opened their 2026 training camp on Saturday with a 90-minute, non-contact practice behind Gillette Stadium that centered on installing a zone-run offense. Head coach Mike Vrabel said the team would increase the number of zone runs to reduce double-team pressure and that pads would be introduced later in the week.

The session saw perfect attendance aside from edge rusher Gabe Jacas, who remains on the roster but was absent, and four players listed on the PUP/NFI list: running back Terrell Jennings, tight end C.J. Dippre, defensive end Harold Landry III and safety Brenden Schooler. No injuries were reported.

Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who recently received a contract extension that would make him the league’s highest-paid at his position, participated fully for the first time this summer after missing many voluntary workouts earlier in the year. He was tested early when quarterback Drake Maye’s first pass of camp was thrown to wide receiver A.J. Brown with Gonzalez in tight coverage, resulting in an incompletion.

Maye was aggressive in his limited passing attempts, completing a deep pass to Kayshon Boutte and later delivering a seam route to Hunter Henry before connecting with DeMario Douglas for a sizable gain.

The Patriots’ starting offensive line featured Will Campbell, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson, Mike Onwenu and Morgan Moses, with rookie Caleb Lomu and veteran James Hudson rotating at right tackle. A bad snap between Wilson and Maye occurred near the end of practice, for which the quarterback took responsibility.

Defensively, New England continued to employ three-safety “big nickel” packages, adding free-agent Mike Brown to the slot alongside regulars Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson, while Dell Pettus filled the role in secondary units.