Full participant Stefon Diggs setting an early tone, and more Patriots training camp notes

Cleaning out the notebook from the Patriots’ first practice of training camp.

On Wednesday, the New England Patriots took the practice fields for the first time all summer to kick off their 2025 training camp. The 90-minute session in shorts and shells was mostly a continuation of offseason workouts, but it still provided fans with a first taste of what the team might eventually look like under new head coach Mike Vrabel.

To recap the session, please make sure to check out Pats Pulpit beat writer Brian Hines’ Training Camp Notebook. Before we turn our attention to Day 2, however, let’s clean out that notebook to put an official wrap on Wednesday.

Patriots Training Camp Notebook: Day 1

Practice recap | Performances of note | Mike Vrabel on camp objectives | Drake Maye on loser fatigue | Stefon Diggs on Drake Maye connection | Milton Williams on leadership | Patriots defenders on Terrell Williams’ return | Pats Pulpit Training Camp Guide

Full participant Stefon Diggs setting an early tone in training camp: When the Patriots revealed their physically unable to perform and non-football injury lists over the weekend, Stefon Diggs’ name was nowhere to be seen. The veteran wide receiver had been fully cleared for training camp despite tearing the ACL in his right knee just nine months earlier.

On Wednesday, Diggs already was an active participant and finished with a pair of receptions from quarterback Drake Maye. More so than his production, his smooth movements and lack of any noticeable limitations stood out.

For Diggs, Day 1 of camp therefore was a promising start.

“Right now at this very moment, considering I’m coming off an injury, I’m super excited to play football,” he explained. “But earning the respect of my teammates, earning the respect of my coaches, getting back out here, being the leader I know that I am — that’s all I want to be right now. I’m going to take it day-by-day.”

Diggs’ presence was immediately felt. He received a huge ovation from the crowd when entering the field shortly after 10 a.m. and during the session made sure to bring that same energy.

“A lot of boost,” said fellow wideout DeMario Douglas. “He has the energy, and he has that dawg. All it takes is one play for somebody to get it going. So, if he makes a play I’m right behind him making a play. If make a play, he’s right behind me to make a play. But that’s for the whole room — the whole room is going to feed off each other. Diggs brings that dawg and that leadership to the room. …

“He talks a lot of junk, but that’s good. You need that. He’s a constructive criticism type of guy. He’s going to tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. That’s what you need.”

Diggs gave an insight into this approach during his post-practice presser as well.

“A lot of people want to throw a lot of anticipation out there, and are getting excited,” he said. “You can’t get too excited. It’s Day 1. I just kind of want to conquer Day 1, watch the film. I wasn’t too happy with some things, so I want to get out there and correct it and get back to playing football.”

Maye-Gonzalez battle shaping up as a main event this summer: Arguably the play of the day for the Patriots offense on Wednesday came courtesy of Kyle Williams. The rookie was able to haul in a pass from quarterback Drake Maye despite All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez providing tight coverage on the perimeter

It was the first of what could be many battles between two of the team’s most important players, Maye and Gonzalez.

“I think he was backside one-on-one with Gonzo,” Maye said about Williams’ reception. “He made a big-time catch, strong hands. I told him to maybe sell it a little more, just try to give him a go route feel. But I think he’s coming along. He’s looking good. I told Gonzo earlier, I’m going to come at him. I’m not going to leave him out here bored at practice.”

Robert Spillane’s excitement at ‘all-time high’ heading into first season with Patriots: Robert Spillane has seen a lot of training camp football through his career in the NFL. A veteran of seven NFL seasons who is now on his fourth team, the 29-year-old is no stranger to early-camp optimism.

This year, however, feels different for the Patriots’ free agency signing. While still bringing a veteran’s caution, he made no efforts to hide his excitement heading into 2025.

“It’s at an all-time high,” he said. “I’ve never been more excited going into a year with a group of guys. We had a great offseason, but that doesn’t promise you anything. We have to come in here and work every day and that’s what we started today.”

Milton Williams is feeling the love: Milton Williams was quite busy during his first practice with the Patriots, providing pressure up the middle on multiple occasions. His day did not end with the final whistle, though: he later interacted with fans, including one who gifted him a homemade sign.

“This is dope. This is dope to see. Got the support from the fans, and I’m coming out here and give them everything I’ve got,” Williams said.

“They’re going to let you know, good or bad. If you’re good, they’re going to let you know about it. If you’re bad, they for sure are going to let you know about it. You have to try to just stay even-keel with it and make sure you’re trying to get better at something every day.”

Williams joined the Patriots on a four-year, $104 million free agency deal in March and seems quite happy in his new environment.

“It’s cool just to be wanted, and wanting you to be a part of the organization,” he said. “I’m going to come here and give it everything I got, and make them right for choosing me.”

Josh McDaniels’ offense taking shape: The first practice of training camp also gave the Patriots their next opportunity to familiarize themselves with their new-look offense headed by coordinator Josh McDaniels. It is one the players are still in the process of learning.

“I’m still grasping it right now,” said Stefon Diggs. “Lots of studying I’m doing. I’m excited about it. I’ve seen a lot of receivers in this offense have a lot of success. We have a lot of weapons. Still learning the book as of right now, but I’m super excited.”

“It’s a blessing just to have Josh McDaniels come over here, because I’ve seen what he’s done with all the slots,” added DeMario Douglas. “He’s a good guy first. Before anything, before we went over plays, he called me and he spoke from the heart. I feel like that’s a coach that you need, especially as an OC. And then on the field, I just have to gain his trust. That’s my duty, to fill the role and do what I need to do to help this team.”

McDaniels had two previous stints as New England offensive coordinator, winning three of his six total Super Bowl rings in that capacity. After one year out of the league following an unsuccessful stint as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, Mike Vrabel brought him aboard to lead his new offense.

For running back Antonio Gibson, who arrived in Foxborough last offseason, it is one of considerable detail.

“Just the respect to details, I feel like that’s the biggest thing. There are no slip-ups, there is no room for error. In order to be a good offense, you have to be able to eliminate the minor mistakes and that’s kind of what he’s instilling in us now. There are consequences behind it. I feel like once we get that down, it will be smooth.”

Mike Vrabel voices expectations for his team’s leaders: The Patriots put a high value on character this offseason, acquiring players who they see as potential leaders and tone-setters for the team. For head coach Mike Vrabel, whoever rises to the top as captains will simultaneously serve as an extension of himself and his vision for the team.

“I hope player and coach can be an extension of the message that I have created, and try to get that across in their own words, and stay consistent to it,” he said on Wednesday.

“That’s why we don’t have a ton of stuff that we try to talk about. We try to stay very consistent, and allow that to kind of branch off, and don’t tell them what to say, but allow them to have some parameters and things that we’re working for. So, we just hope that everybody carries that message over here, as they work to lead their unit or another position.”

Patriots’ dog adoption initiative a success: Collaborating with the Animal Rescue League of Boston, the Potter League for Animals and the Berkshire Humane Society, the Patriots turned the first day of camp into a pet adoption party. In total 40 of the 41 dogs available ended up finding new homes, with one adoption pending.

Before practice, team owner Robert Kraft mentioned how his own dog, Heisman, inspired him to initiate an adoption event at training camp.

“Four years ago at my birthday, a friend delivered Heisman to my front door. Who gets a dog as a birthday gift, unrequested? I was really ambivalent, but it’s unbelievable how he has been added to our family and has brought so much love.”

What’s next: The Patriots will be back on the practice field on Thursday at 10:15 a.m. ET, with doors opening an hour earlier at 9:15. Make sure to follow Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) as well as our very own Brian Hines (@iambrianhines) and Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) for updates.