Training camp truly doesn't start until teams put pads on. Especially for guys in the trenches, as it can be difficult to judge in shorts and shells.
For Patriots' first-round pick Will Campbell, this week, which included joint practices against the Washington Commanders, was a crucial one. It was time to step up in practice and prove that he could hang with high-quality defensive linemen on another team.
Campbell was often matched up against former Patriot Deatrich Wise in workouts, and performed exceptionally well against the veteran defensive tackle. Coming into the NFL Draft, there was skepticism about whether Campbell could be a franchise left tackle due to his arm length, but Campbell has been silencing those doubters in camp.