Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots wrapped up training camp with a final joint practice with the Carolina Panthers on Wednesday before their preseason game on Friday.
Like Tuesday, the two teams again found themselves in a brawl as two separate scrums unfolded.
The first fight came after Panthers defensive back Kenny Robinson landed a significant blow on Patriots wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson during a kickoff/return drill. Wilkerson had to be taken away and was later diagnostic with a concussion.
PFF’s Doug Kyed reported On Wednesday night, Wilkerson “will likely miss some time with a head injury, but further tests from the medical establishment came out clear.”
Although the shot was deemed clean by a few Patriots, notably Matthew Slater, it was the Panthers’ postgame celebrations, particularly Robinson’s sanding on Wilkerson, that sparked anger.
“When you see a teammate on the pitch… I’ve been in this game for a long time, and I think anyone playing at this level understands when a guy is out. They know what it’s like, and I don’t think now is the time to celebrate. I really don’t know,” Slater said. “I don’t have a problem with the shot. I didn’t see it, but I think it was clean, from what I understand.
Panthers head coach Matt Rhule ejected Robinson for taunting. However, the hot tempers on both sides continued.
Just minutes after the first skirmish ended and the teams returned to drills, Deatrich Wise hit Christian McCaffrey as he went out of bounds, leading to the Panthers players pushing Wise into the stands and on a fan. Wise’s actions led to an expulsion from the practice.
“My thoughts are with the woman who was injured there. Hope she is well,” Rhule said. “We sent Kenny off the field. “I saw standing over the player. That’s not how you want to train. Things happen in football. There were good hits, but we don’t stand above- above them to taunt them – it might affect their livelihood so we fired him Officials fired Chuba… They said he punched.
As for the football itself, the Patriots’ passing game looked solid for the second day in a row.
Mac Jones finished the practice completing 11/15 passes in 11-on-11 drills and 5/7 in 7-on-7 drills. The offense finished the morning with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion in two minutes.
Jones threw two 25-yard touchdown passes, one to Jonnu Smith and one to Nelson Agholor, on both snaps immediately after the second fight.
On the defensive end of the ball, Jalen Mills continued his dominating side, making the play of the day after intercepting Sam Darnold on the 2-minute drill while covering for DJ Moore. All sightings throughout the summer point to Mills becoming the top corner heading into the regular season.
You can see more of the best moments from the last open session of training camp in the social media posts below.
old patriots @Tedy_Bruschi and @koppen67 attending training camp today. @NBC10 #patriots pic.twitter.com/bvpvuR097M
—Joe Kayata (@NBC10_Joe) August 17, 2022
Devante Parker (1) and Tyquan Thornton (11) work a WRs drill Wednesday during joint practice with Carolina. @wbz #PatsCamp pic.twitter.com/Fb2E4XmYeK
— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) August 17, 2022
Pats receivers implementing. pic.twitter.com/EVluNLb0vk
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) August 17, 2022
Troy Brown throws it. pic.twitter.com/FQ7hnKqQku
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) August 17, 2022
Thornton’s takes look effortless:
(🎥: @globejimmcbride)
pic.twitter.com/Jpqgx58vvE—Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) August 17, 2022
Jalen Mills opens the 1v1 with a PBU, then Myles Bryant catches an INT during the 2v2. #Patriots back defense today.
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 17, 2022
Ty Montgomery does a one-handed overhead catch as he runs down the baseline against Duke Dawson
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) August 17, 2022
Jalen Mills picks up where he left off yesterday. Broke a pass to DJ Moore on the first 1-on-1 rep and beat Moore in another rep
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandallNESN) August 17, 2022
Jonnu Smith went 3-0 in 1-on-1 and also drew.
Good catches challenged by Jakobi Meyers and Ty Montgomery. Montgomery was a one-hander.
Both teams are working in the red zone.
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) August 17, 2022
Work in’#PatsCamp | #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/jrc6bMxvN6
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 17, 2022
Kenny Robinson, who was kicked out of practice for fighting Kristian Wilkerson, just lighted Wilkerson in a comeback drill. It looked like he had knocked him out.
Patriots ST coach Cam Achord lashed out at Robinson. Just like Ronnie Perkins and several Patriots, including Matthew Slater
—Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) August 17, 2022
Kristian Wilkerson is on the pitch after being hit by Kenny Robinson during a throwing drill. These two were kicked out of practice yesterday for fighting.
Cam Achord and Matthew Slater were both curious about the Panthers sideline
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) August 17, 2022
O yes, we have something going on here pic.twitter.com/DQvgP01Yp5
— AWLSabermetrics (@awlsabermetrics) August 17, 2022
Lots to sort through here…
The two teams huddle separately. These joint practices are on the verge of becoming unproductive. Teams can’t find the midpoint.
DL Deatrich Wise Jr. has left the practice. Maybe an ejection. https://t.co/ceiksEKNQu
—Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 17, 2022
@ZoandBertrand @scottzolak the game leading to combat pic.twitter.com/Dv2KnoIWyo
— Mikey Mcdermott (@MikeyInTheTruck) August 17, 2022
See better here pic.twitter.com/z8VD9LDSEb
— Matthew Gilmete (@UnbiasPat) August 17, 2022
On the first play of the fight, Mac Jones hits a Jonnu Smith for a touchdown on Jeremy Chinn. It lit up the Patriots sideline
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) August 17, 2022
All hell broke loose near the stands. Punching and shoving. The players on the far field ran to the other field. This happened shortly after Wilkerson fell in another period that led to breakouts. The Pats players weren’t happy about that; carried over to next period
— Mike Uva (@Mike_Uva) August 17, 2022
Two beauties from Mac Jones’ red zone to start team drills.
A first to Jonnu Smith on a corner drive that went down inside the five, then a perfectly lifted touchdown to Nelson Agholor, who beat two defenders for the ball before going out of bounds.
—Khari Thompson (@kdthompson5) August 17, 2022
Wow. Crazy scene at #PatsCamp. Big fight between #Panthers and #Patriots. Fan appears to have been injured in the fight. 2/x pic.twitter.com/Bfaxv7MJKs
—Shaun Ganley (@sganley) August 17, 2022
Two duels today with the Patriots and the Panthers
🏈Kristian Wilkerson eliminated after kick-off
🏈Deatrich Wise, Jr ejected after Christian McCaffrey was hit hard. Chuba Hubbard expelled for Carolina
🏈Kalon Barnes yelling at Slater; Jabrill Peppers Restrained @wbz
— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) August 17, 2022
To sum up:
🏈 WR Kristian Wilkerson falls on knockout return. Differing opinions in the media tent whether it was the result of a hit or no contact… some Pats seemed to take issue with Panther standing over him.
🏈 Christian McCaffrey takes a hit out of bounds. Throw the ball at Pat. Big dusting.
—Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 17, 2022
Game of the Day Candidate: Marcus Jones deflects a short throw from the sideline to himself during the red zone drill, catches it and stomps inbounds for an INT.
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 17, 2022
Game of the Day: Nelson Agholor just caught a 20-yard TD from Mac Jones in double coverage. Neither Jaycee Horn nor Myles Hartsfield turned around and Agholor jumped through them.
— Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) August 17, 2022
Highlight play: Mac Jones to Nelson Agholor in an 11-on-11 red zone drill, with Agholor jumping to beat double/triple coverage in the right corner of the end zone. Nice adjustment to the ball in the air by Agholor.
—Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 17, 2022
Jalen Mills intercepted Sam Darnold and kicked the ball in the air. The Panthers players didn’t seem to like it.
—Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) August 17, 2022
Jalen Mills intercepts Sam Darnold’s side pass to DJ Moore on the first snap of Darnold’s 2-minute drill and throws the ball in celebration.
Mills looked like a real stopping CB in training camp.
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 17, 2022
Matthew Slater explains why he was upset with the reaction of some Panthers players after the hit on Kristian Wilkerson that sparked today’s brawl pic.twitter.com/qNArTYC3gb
— NBC Sports Boston Patriots coverage (@NBCSPatriots) August 17, 2022
“We saw our guy spread out in a period that is not necessary for that”
Devin McCourty reacts to Patriots brawl with Panthers pic.twitter.com/EhVGXG5jeU
— NBC Sports Boston Patriots coverage (@NBCSPatriots) August 17, 2022
“We’re just trying to achieve the standard that we set for ourselves.”
Patriots players in the last two days of joint practices with Carolina. pic.twitter.com/7KRAmdYL17
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 17, 2022
Posted under:
2022 Patriots training camp
Key words:
Deatrich Wise Jr. Devin McCourty Jakobi Meyers Jalen Mills Jonnu Smith Kristian Wilkerson Mac Jones Marcus Jones Matthew Judon Matthew Slater Nelson Agholor Ty Montgomery Tyquan Thornton