Overview
- In early August, Jones told reporters he has seen clear gains in Campbell’s play, saying Campbell is stronger at the point of attack, more patient with his hands, and stays square longer in pass sets.
- Jones, who faced Campbell last season before joining New England, described their daily one-on-one drills as mutually beneficial and said the rookie’s improvement makes practice more competitive.
- Campbell returned to camp after rehabbing a torn knee ligament he revealed he played through in the postseason, and teammates credit offseason film study and work with veteran linemen for his technical progress.
- The Patriots view Campbell’s Year 2 leap as important because he was the No. 4 overall pick and is expected to protect quarterback Drake Maye’s blind side, including in a Super Bowl rematch with Seattle on September 9.
- Jones’s arrival on a multi-year deal and his matchup work with Campbell create a real-time measuring stick for the tackle and give New England a clearer sense of whether Campbell can become the long-term answer at left tackle.