OXBOROUGH, Mass – On Saturday, the competition between the offense and the defense really stepped up. And the quality of play was elevated because of it.

It was for sure the most entertaining practice of training camp this summer.

So let’s get into the main takeaways from Day 9.

1. Catch of the day goes to Hunter Henry

Hunter Henry made an insane one-handed grab during training camp that had the crowd going wild and reporters very impressed.

“It’s never the plan (to catch passes one-handed), but sometimes it just happens,” Henry said with a laugh after practice.

With safety Kyle Dugger in tight coverage, Jacoby Brissett sent the ball high during a two-minute drill and Henry answered the call.

ESPN’s Mike Reiss did report after the play that coaches ruled it a sack, as pressure came from the right edge of the offensive line.

But since it’s just training camp, it was an very cool catch and so we’ll count it for the day.

2. Buzzer beater for Brissett and Henry

The Patriots put a strong emphasis on the two-minute drill today. And it was Brissett who had the most success. The clock started at 56 seconds, and Brissett got the team down the field. However, the clock was ticking down and it appeared they wouldn’t get the final snap off. But with one second left, Brissett got the ball and located Hunter Henry in the back of the end zone.

“That’s situational football,” Henry explained. “Those are huge situations in games… you have to be able to execute in those situations and today we were able to do that.”

Brissett’s ability to lead the team down the field during these two-minute drills relates closest to Mayo’s comments about being Pro-ready. And it proves that he should be the starter at this moment.

As for pass catchers, there are five that have stood out: Henry, K.J. Osborn, DeMario Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker.

3. The best kick of camp

At the end of a two-minute drill led by Drake Maye, it was up to one kicker to finish it off. And coaches decided to give this opportunity to veteran Joey Slye.

On Thursday and Friday, Slye missed a field goal both days, but on Saturday he redeemed himself.

The kick was over 50 yards, but Slye knocked it right down the middle.

The past two days it seemed Ryland was ahead, but Slye evened it right up.

4.  O-Line banged up

With Calvin Anderson and Chukwuma Okorafor sidelined from practice on Saturday, there was a different look to the offensive line.

Vederian Lowe was on the left side to start for the fourth straight practice, while Caedan Wallace filled in at right tackle.

5. Defense responds with INTs

Jerod Mayo challenged the defense going into Saturday’s practice.

“The offense the last couple of days, they’ve done well whether it’s running the ball, the play-action game, pushing the ball down the field, I think those guys are doing a good job,” Mayo told reporters.

And the defense certainly stepped up with some big plays, including two interceptions.

The first one was on a pass from Brissett to Jalen Reagor during 11s, but Azizi Hearn had great coverage on the receiver and knocked the ball out of his arms. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins was right behind, and caught the ball in the end zone.

And then in 7s, Brissett and Austin Hooper appeared to have a miscommunication, and when the quarterback let go of the ball, Alex Austin was in perfect position to catch it.

It’s also worth a mention that undrafted rookie safety Dell Pettus had an impressive day, breaking up a pass during 11s and knocking JaMycal Hasty out of bonds along with sideline on a run. He’s a sneaky candidate to make the 53-man roster.

6. Another tough day for JuJu Smith-Schuster

After a lackluster 2023 season, Smith-Schuster needed to come out this training camp and prove himself.

But, he has certainly not done that in the first nine sessions.

On Saturday things didn’t get any better. Especially when he appeared to be with the second offense on the field with Bailey Zappe and Joe Milton while Maye and Brissett were on the others with the presumed “top” receivers.

And then during an 11-on-11 period, he dropped a ball from Milton in the end zone that he should have had. Soon after, he slipped during Maye’s two-minute drill when the quarterback was trying to locate him.

7. Quarterback Stats

11v11s
Jacoby Brissett: 10/14, INT
Drake Maye: 4/12
Bailey Zappe: 5/7
Joe Milton III: 1/5

7v7s
Jacoby Brissett: 3/5, INT
Drake Maye: 3/5
Joe Milton III: 1/4

**Maye had a MUCH better day than the numbers show

8. Attendance

Missing: 
– WR Tyquan Thornton
– OT Calvin Anderson
– CB Marcus Jones
– S Marte Mapu
– TE Jaheim Bell
– S Josh Bledsoe
– DT Christian Barmore
– OT Chukwuma Okorafor

PUP: WR Kendrick Bourne (here but not in pads), LB Sione Takitaki, G Cole Strange, OL Jake Andrews

• Per Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan, Tyquan Thornton’s absence is not considered to be long-term or serious.
• DeMario Douglas and Shaun Wade in red non-contact jerseys
• Joshua Uche didn’t participate in team drills