Patriots conclude minicamp with early exit after Maye-Swinson collision

The New England Patriots concluded their mandatory three-day minicamp on Thursday at Gillette Stadium, ending the spring program with a final practice session that marked a significant shift in intensity from the previous day’s walkthrough. The session, which served as the final step in the team’s offseason workout program, was brought to an early close following a collision between starting quarterback Drake Maye and second-year pass rusher Bradyn Swinson. Both players were seen on the ground before getting up without visible injury, prompting the coaching staff to terminate the practice ahead of the scheduled 2:50 p.m. ET finish.

Despite the abrupt end, the practice highlighted the emerging rapport between Maye and high-profile trade acquisition wide receiver A.J. Brown. Brown recorded three receptions, including two touchdowns, showcasing his ability to make difficult catches. One of these scores involved a pass in the back corner of the end zone against tight coverage by cornerback Craig Woodson, where Brown high-pointed the ball despite Maye releasing it before Brown had fully turned. Brown later attributed the catch to his background in baseball, noting he turned his head to locate the ball over his shoulder.

In contrast to the efficiency shown by the starting quarterback, the backup quarterbacks faced significant accuracy issues as the session progressed. Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton struggled to complete passes, finishing the minicamp with seven consecutive incompletions between them. DeVito’s final four passes and Morton’s final three all hit the turf, raising questions about their readiness as the team heads into the summer break.

Second-year wide receivers Kyle Williams and Efton Chism provided some positive notes for the offensive side, scoring touchdowns on passes from DeVito. Williams and Chism had not registered receptions from Maye in competitive drills but found the end zone with the backup unit. Fellow sophomore Jeremiah Webb also scored, while third-round draft pick tight end Eli Raridon saw an increased workload due to the absence of Jack Westover, catching one pass from Maye.

On the defensive side, linebacker Chad Muma, a 2025 in-season addition who primarily played special teams last year, took on a larger role. With Robert Spillane a limited participant, Muma wore the green dot as the on-field signal caller and recorded a pass breakup. Free agent signing cornerback Kindle Vildor also saw significant reps with the starting defense, providing tight coverage on an incomplete fade intended for Mack Hollins, although he was beaten on the touchdown catch by Brown. Wide receiver Christian Gonzalez did not participate in competitive team drills.

The Patriots will now take a multi-week summer break before reconvening at Gillette Stadium in late July for training camp. The offseason program concludes with this minicamp, leaving the team to evaluate the developing chemistry on offense and the depth chart adjustments on defense before the pre-season begins.