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FOXBORO — The Patriots just keep adding to their receiver room.
AJ Brown, Romeo Doubs and potential future Hall of Famer DeAndre Hopkins were all present on New England’s training camp report day. Head coach Mike Vrabel stressed the latter is currently just weighing his future in coaching and asked to reunite with his former Tennessee Titans coach.
Hopkins is expected to be on the back practice fields as training camp opens in earnest on Saturday morning in Foxboro and over the next few days. His arrival, and 13-year playing experience, should be welcomed for an offense that needs more consistency this fall.
“Him and I talked, and he asked if he could come hang out for a couple of days, and be around the coaches, and be around the personnel department,” Vrabel said on Friday morning. “I called the league and made sure that was going to be OK. And then I invited him back, and that’s where he’s been the last couple of days and he’ll be here the next couple of days.”
Hopkins appeared in 17 games with the Ravens last season, catching just 22 passes for 330 yards. He hasn’t produced steadily since that 2023 season under Vrabel, but it shouldn’t be a surprise to see the now 34-year-old with the Patriots. Vrabel has been quick to add his former players to the building, notably Harold Landry III and now Brown, as he shifted the Patriots’ dynamic last year.
Hopkins will add veteran leadership to a receiver room that needs it after New England reset the group with Brown and Doubs at the top of the ladder.
"He has got coaching gear on and he is helping out the offensive coaches,” Vrabel said. “And meeting with our personnel guys. I mean, he loves football. People that love football and have played the game for the length of time that he did, he wants, I think, to explore the opportunities and what that looks like after his playing career is over.”
New England saw Hopkins last year and in 2022 when he was with the Arizona Cardinals. Hopkins hauled in seven catches for 79 yards in the Patriots’ 27-13 victory over Arizona with Mac Jones calling the shots. Marcus Jones snagged his first career interception, off Colt McCoy, in that Monday night showdown in Glendale. The now Patriots’ captain, and the defense, hopes to lean on Hopkins.
“That’s a guy that whenever we have questions, we can actually ask him and learn about the knowledge of how guys think about running routes and being a receiver,” Jones said.
“Obviously a potential Hall of Fame guy, a guy that played the game the right way and I’m sure he’ll do great as a coach,” Robert Spillane said.
The defense has lofty expectations of itself after losing in the Super Bowl last season. It retained most of its starters, besides K'Lavon Chaisson, and signed Dre'Mont Jones to a three-year contract. Christian Gonzalez, who is seeking a new contract, is expected at camp on Saturday, setting up for a potentially elite unit for New England.
“We talked about being a No. 1 scoring defense, that’s something that we want to pride ourselves into,” Jones said.
“Knowing where you are and what type of team you are is very important. We are the team that’s being hunted, and we have to wear that chip on our shoulder every single time we get out there.”
More: Patriots News 24/7
Linebacker Gabe Jacas isn’t expected at practice as he is one of just two rookies left unsigned from April’s draft. Jacas underwent surgery after the draft and his current health status is unknown.
“I can only go by what he says and so when he gets here, we’ll evaluate that,” Vrabel said of Jacas’ health. “Of course, we’ll be as smart as we can just to see because we haven’t seen him with us. But I would say that — I’d use the words cautiously optimistic. But again, those conversations have been great, and excited to see where he’s at.”
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Patriots add DeAndre Hopkins to coaching staff ahead of training camp
Continue reading...
AJ Brown, Romeo Doubs and potential future Hall of Famer DeAndre Hopkins were all present on New England’s training camp report day. Head coach Mike Vrabel stressed the latter is currently just weighing his future in coaching and asked to reunite with his former Tennessee Titans coach.
Hopkins is expected to be on the back practice fields as training camp opens in earnest on Saturday morning in Foxboro and over the next few days. His arrival, and 13-year playing experience, should be welcomed for an offense that needs more consistency this fall.
“Him and I talked, and he asked if he could come hang out for a couple of days, and be around the coaches, and be around the personnel department,” Vrabel said on Friday morning. “I called the league and made sure that was going to be OK. And then I invited him back, and that’s where he’s been the last couple of days and he’ll be here the next couple of days.”
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Hopkins appeared in 17 games with the Ravens last season, catching just 22 passes for 330 yards. He hasn’t produced steadily since that 2023 season under Vrabel, but it shouldn’t be a surprise to see the now 34-year-old with the Patriots. Vrabel has been quick to add his former players to the building, notably Harold Landry III and now Brown, as he shifted the Patriots’ dynamic last year.
Hopkins will add veteran leadership to a receiver room that needs it after New England reset the group with Brown and Doubs at the top of the ladder.
"He has got coaching gear on and he is helping out the offensive coaches,” Vrabel said. “And meeting with our personnel guys. I mean, he loves football. People that love football and have played the game for the length of time that he did, he wants, I think, to explore the opportunities and what that looks like after his playing career is over.”
New England saw Hopkins last year and in 2022 when he was with the Arizona Cardinals. Hopkins hauled in seven catches for 79 yards in the Patriots’ 27-13 victory over Arizona with Mac Jones calling the shots. Marcus Jones snagged his first career interception, off Colt McCoy, in that Monday night showdown in Glendale. The now Patriots’ captain, and the defense, hopes to lean on Hopkins.
“That’s a guy that whenever we have questions, we can actually ask him and learn about the knowledge of how guys think about running routes and being a receiver,” Jones said.
“Obviously a potential Hall of Fame guy, a guy that played the game the right way and I’m sure he’ll do great as a coach,” Robert Spillane said.
You must be registered for see images
The defense has lofty expectations of itself after losing in the Super Bowl last season. It retained most of its starters, besides K'Lavon Chaisson, and signed Dre'Mont Jones to a three-year contract. Christian Gonzalez, who is seeking a new contract, is expected at camp on Saturday, setting up for a potentially elite unit for New England.
“We talked about being a No. 1 scoring defense, that’s something that we want to pride ourselves into,” Jones said.
“Knowing where you are and what type of team you are is very important. We are the team that’s being hunted, and we have to wear that chip on our shoulder every single time we get out there.”
More: Patriots News 24/7
Linebacker Gabe Jacas isn’t expected at practice as he is one of just two rookies left unsigned from April’s draft. Jacas underwent surgery after the draft and his current health status is unknown.
“I can only go by what he says and so when he gets here, we’ll evaluate that,” Vrabel said of Jacas’ health. “Of course, we’ll be as smart as we can just to see because we haven’t seen him with us. But I would say that — I’d use the words cautiously optimistic. But again, those conversations have been great, and excited to see where he’s at.”
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Patriots add DeAndre Hopkins to coaching staff ahead of training camp
Continue reading...
