FOXBORO — The Patriots completed their first week of training camp on Saturday. It included four practices in front of enthusiastic crowds at the Gillette Stadium practice fields.
Although this has been a reminder that football is right around the corner, the Patriots still haven’t put on the pads. That finally will happen on Monday and will mark the first time offensive linemen get to block, cornerbacks get to jam receivers and defenders actually tackle someone.
Padded practices provide the ultimate competition to see who will make the Patriots' initial 53-man roster at the end of August.