Patriots

Matthew Judon returns to the field for Patriots’ mandatory minicamp

Jerod Mayo gave a shout-out to the Celtics amid the ongoing NBA Finals.

Jerod Mayo talking to reporters earlier in June. AP Photo/Steven Senne

June 10, 2024

The Patriots opened the team’s mandatory minicamp portion of the offseason with, as new head coach Jerod Mayo pointed out, “full attendance.”

“I mean, it’s mandatory,” Mayo joked, “but I feel good about it. I would say we’ve had really good attendance throughout the spring for the most part.”

Edge rusher Matthew Judon was among those on the field, making his first appearance since suffering a torn bicep tendon in a loss to the Cowboys last October.

Just like that, @man_dammn's back. pic.twitter.com/WkGn8wOzco
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) June 10, 2024

New England did have a few players absent from practice, including Kendrick Bourne, Cole Strange, and Josh Uche.

Among the notable points of interest in the offseason across the NFL are the new kickoff rules. Other teams, including the Chiefs, have already mentioned the possibility of trying to use a regular position player as the kicker to maximize the potential of the new parameters (which, among other things, will ban the usage of the fair catch).

“We haven’t really experimented with it at all,” Mayo noted of using a non-kicker, “but [Jahlani] Tavai is knocking on my door every day [saying], ‘I can do it, coach, I can do it.'”

Mayo joked that his response to the 255-pound linebacker has been, “Just get healthy.”

He was open about the fact that Patriots coaches are still trying to sort out the full implications of the changes.

“I don’t think anyone actually knows how this thing is going to play out,” Mayo admitted. “The rules are still kind of fluid even as of today. We watch it as a full staff, just because it’s one of those plays where, we talk about collaboration all the time, we’re trying to get opinions of the offensive coaches, the defensive coaches, and special teams coaches. And also, you know, just calling around the league to see how they think about it.

“But once again, I don’t think anyone really knows how it’s going to play out. It might just be beneficial to take the ball at the 30 [yard line]. I don’t know.”

On the subject of third overall pick Drake Maye, Mayo was asked about a specific moment when the rookie consulted wide receiver K.J. Osborn about a practice rep he ran for Jacoby Brissett (the New England quarterback currently atop the depth chart).

“A guy who he’s dialed in every rep, even the reps that he’s not in,” Mayo said of Maye. “I think it’s smart of him to go talk to a guy like K.J. who has had good quarterbacks in the past. You know, so those guys can be on the same page. The same thing with Jacoby and the rest of the quarterbacks is being on the same page with the guys they are going to throw the ball to, is definitely huge. You know, it’s always good when a guy is curious and he has a natural curiosity about football, X’s and O’s, and all that stuff.”

And given the timing, Mayo is cognizant that eyes are on another of the local teams. After closing his opening remarks with a simple, “Go Cs,” Mayo was later asked if he has a relationship with Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.

“I have a great relationship with a few of those coaches,” said Mayo. “You know, Tony [Dobbins] and Joe. Those guys are great. I like to say I knew Joe before he was Joe. So hopefully they win the championship and we get them back out here.”