The start of the New England Patriots training camp is closing in and fans of the region are no doubt ready to get their first up-close glimpses of Bill Belichick’s squad for 2022.
Heading into the new season, year two in the development of franchise quarterback Mac Jones will be one of the primary stories in training camp. As well as what the offense might look like without new Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels calling the plays. Nevertheless, with Belichick’s giant resume filled with success, the Pats are sure to build the framework for another winning season this summer.
Let’s dive into Sportsnaut’s New England Patriots training camp preview, examining everything you need to know from location, schedule, and storylines to follow.
Related: New England Patriots schedule – Predictions and analysis for the 2022 season
New England Patriots training camp schedule
Since 2003, the practice fields outside Gillette Stadium have served as the location for the team’s annual training camp and will do so again in 2022.
The New England Patriots training camp kicks off when rookies arrive on July 19. Then the veterans join their new teammates the following week on July 26. There will be six open workouts for fans to attend this summer, starting on July 27 and extending all the way to August 17.
- Wednesday, July 27
- Thursday, July 28
- Friday, July 29
- Saturday, July 30
- Tuesday, August 16
- Wednesday, August 17
New England Patriots training camp locations
In case you were curious about where the team used to practice in the pre-Gillette Stadium days, here is a quick overview of where Patriots training camps have been held in the past, per Pro Football Reference.
- 2003 – 2022 – Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Massachusetts
- 1976 – 2002 – Bryant College– Smithfield, Rhode Island
- 1969 – 1975 – University of Massachusetts – Amherst, Massachusetts
- 1962 – 1968 – Phillips Academy – Andover, Massachusetts
- 1960 -1961 – University of Massachusetts – Amherst, Massachusetts
Can fans attend the Patriots training camp this year?
The short answer is yes. Fans can attend the New England Patriots training camp for free in person. However, along with being able to watch one of the sport’s most famous teams train in person, fans will also get to enjoy games, activities, and photo opportunities with players, the team mascot Pat the Patriot, team alumni, and their cheerleaders.
Training camp begins on Wednesday, July 27. You can find out about getting tickets to the six planned training camp events on the team’s website here.
Storylines, position battles for New England Patriots training camp
Here are the top storylines to follow and position battles to watch during Patriots training camp 2022.
Who will be calling the plays on offense in 2022?
After 13 seasons calling the offense, which was bookended by stints in Denver and St. Louis, Josh McDaniels will not be guiding the Pats’ high-powered offense this season. So the question is, who will get the gig and fill the new Raiders coach’s talented shoes?
At the start of training camp, former assistants turned head coaches, and now back as assistants, Joe Judge and Matt Patricia were given unique titles by Belichick. Patricia is now the senior football advisor/offensive line coach while Joe Judge serves as an offensive assistant/quarterbacks coach. Meaning there is still no defined offensive coordinator.
In the end, Belichick, Judge, and Patricia may all have major roles each week in the offensive scheme, however, it is still unclear who will be the official play caller when the season starts.
Who will fill the massive hole left by J.C. Jackson?
Losing first-time Pro Bowler J.C. Jackson in free agency was the biggest departure New England was hit with during the 2022 NFL offseason. In a league where the passing game is almost every team’s primary option on offense, his 98 tackles and 17 interceptions over the last two seasons will be difficult to replace in the secondary.
However, with Jackson taking his talents to the Chargers it opens up some major opportunities for free-agent additions Malcolm Butler and Terrance Mitchell. As well as the two cornerbacks the Patriots took in the third and fourth-round of this year’s draft Marcus Jones and Jack Jones.
The Jones boys and the veterans they signed will get a boatload of opportunities in camp to sink or swim. The question is which players will grab that opportunity brass ring?
The continued rise of Mac Jones as ‘The Man’
In trying to find the next franchise QB in a post-Tom Brady world, the New England Patriots couldn’t have had a much better result than Mac Jones earning Pro Bowl honors in his rookie season. However, now the low expectations are gone and fans will want fewer growing pains in year two for the Alabama alum.
The Patriots’ season and AFC East hopes rest on how far Jones and his arm will take them. That is a lot of pressure to put on a 23-year-old leading a franchise that expects excellence after 20 years of winning. But based on his first season, the coaching staff around him, and dealing with high expectations playing for an elite college program previously, Jones feels destined to have more success in year two.