The long wait is over: training camp season is upon us! While the New England Patriots will not hold their first practice of this year’s camp until Thursday, players have started to arrive at Gillette Stadium to report. Today, the first group of players had to show up: New England’s twenty-one rookies as well as veteran players recovering from injuries. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, all expected players were present and accounted for.
Reporting is an important part of the training camp process, as it includes players going through medical checks and the conditioning test. The results will determine whether they are cleared to participate in practice or will be placed on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) to open camp. When it comes to the Patriots this year, some big names are worth taking a closer look at:
RB Sony Michel: Knee (underwent offseason arthroscopy)
WR Demaryius Thomas: Knee (tore his ACL in December 2018)
OT Isaiah Wynn: Achilles (tore his Achilles tendon in August 2018)
OT Yodny Cajuste: Quad (underwent offseason surgery)
DE Deatrich Wise Jr: Ankle (was spotted in walking boot)
SS Patrick Chung: Arm/shoulder (broke arm during Super Bowl; underwent offseason shoulder surgery)
The six men listed here all failed to fully participate in the Patriots’ last practice during their mandatory minicamp in early June. The reporting process that started today will find out how ready they are to join their teammates on Thursday and beyond. While most are expected to be cleared, others are relative question marks heading into the first week of training camp.