Patriots training camp: Cam Newton running away with Patriots quarterback job

Brian Hoyer went 3-for-6 on his 7-on-7 reps. One was reeled in by Harry but secured against his chest, and one of Hoyer's incompletion came as a result of a drop by Harry.

Asiasi caught one of Hoyer's passes but had the ball punched free by Cassh Maluia. Asiasi had to run a lap as a result.

Devin Ross appears to be picking things up nicely in his second season in the Patriots offense and garnered praise for one well-run route. 

11-on-11 work...

Cam Newton saw 30 reps in the 11-on-11 period before the lone field-goal period of the practice. Hoyer saw 12 reps in the same span. Clearly, the Patriots are doing all they can to get the former MVP comfortable with his new offense and new teammates. After the field-goal period late in the practice, Hoyer saw seven more snaps while Newton saw nine. 

In Newton's 39 snaps in the 11-on-11 periods, he started out 7-for-7 before having a pass broken up by rookie Myles Bryant. In all, he went 19-for-27 on his 11-on-11 passing reps. Some of his nicest-looking completions came to Julian Edelman, who was there on a series of quick strikes from Newton -- including one where Newton identified all-out pressure and got the ball out of his hand quickly.

Two of Newton's first three completions in 11-on-11 work, and seven completions in all, went to Edelman on Sunday. The two worked on a side field at one point to talk routes, the latest of several side-session powwows between the pair this summer. 

"Getting to know each other as people on the field, off the field," Edelman said of Newton after practice. "Trying to build a rapport. That's what I'm doing also with Hoy and with Stid but those guys have been around. Gotta catch up with Cam."  

Newton also hit Ryan Izzo on a contested pass in the end zone that only Izzo could reach. He later hit Sanu with a well-placed high pass on the back end line for a touchdown to end the practice. Newton put the football just beyond the reach of Harry on a go route and over-shot Damien Harris on a screen attempt, but otherwise it was a relatively clean day for him. 

Hoyer went 12-for-15 in 19 snaps of 11-on-11 periods, with one pass picked off by corner Justin Bethel deep down the field. Hoyer had one pass dropped by Asiasi, and another that was broken up over the middle when targeting Harry.

It's clear which of the two veteran quarterbacks is more fluent in the language of the Patriots offense, as Hoyer was barking out orders almost non-stop during hurry-up periods. Newton made calls at the line himself, but Hoyer seemed to do so more frequently and confidently.

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WHO POPPED?

Damien Harris: The more that running backs miss practice, the more Harris seems to take advantage. Michel and Miller have been out for the duration of camp thus far, and White and Taylor missed Sunday.

That meant tons of reps for Harris and Rex Burkhead. Harris looked comfortable taking exchanges from Newton, and he caught the ball cleanly in term periods. The 2019 third-rounder is angling for a bigger offensive role in Year 2. 

Deatrich Wise: Wise flashed in team periods despite contact not being allowed. He found himself in the backfield for sacks on two different occasions. The fourth-year veteran acknowledged recently that he gained weight this offseason, which could make him a more logical fit in what has been a 3-4 style defense for Bill Belichick lately.

Lighter last year, Wise was a bit of a 'tweener between the burlier 3-4 defensive ends and lighter, more athletic outside linebackers. He now looks like he could be in the 3-4 end rotation as an interior-line defender with Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler and Byron Cowart. 

Patriots linebackers: Jerod Mayo could be heard throughout the practice, oftentimes after positive plays from the Patriots linebacker corps. Ja'Whaun Bentley blew up a designed quarterback run at one point. Terez Hall broke up a pass and would've blown up a screen to Burkhead had contact been allowed. Maluia forced a fumble. Shilique Calhoun forced an end-around run back inside by identifying it and getting wide quickly.

The strength of the Patriots defense is in the secondary but it was a good day for Belichick's front-seven. 

WHO DROPPED? 

N'Keal Harry: He returned to work after missing three practices and didn't look fully-energized. At the end of the practice, with hurry-up work the focus, it appeared as though the offensive huddle was waiting for him to take the field after taking several consecutive reps with the group prior. Damiere Byrd, who'd been out with the previous group as well, jumped up to take the work instead.

Harry chatted with a trainer and walked to the sideline while play continued. He had drops in team work and in drills. His development could be crucial to the Patriots passing game, but after missing three days he didn't have his best day Sunday.

Devin Asiasi: Though the rookie tight end shows impressive body control and hands during points of just about every Patriots practice, he had a couple of miscues Sunday, including a fumble (which led to a lap) and a drop.

Physically, he still looks like the most talented tight end in the group. But Sunday might've been a wakeup call of sorts when it comes to the focus the Patriots coaching staff requires.

Justin Rohrwasser: Last seen kicking on Monday, reporters saw the rookie fifth-round pick for the first time in almost a week Sunday. Late in the practice, he kicked on a field with Joe Cardona snapping and Jake Bailey holding, hooking two of his first three kicks wide left.

When working in an 11-on-11 period, he made two of four kicks aimed at the narrower-than-normal uprights. A third kick certainly would've gone in on normal uprights. Still, it was a bit of an adventure of a day for Rohrwasser.

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Patriots training camp: Cam Newton running away with Patriots quarterback job originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston