practice: **Dont'a Hightower, Jerod Mayo, Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones were all present after missing all or most of OTAs and minicamp. Hightower, recovering from February shoulder surgery, jogged onto the field carrying his helmet and shoulder pads. The Pats didn't practice in pads, however.
**A good sign for Aaron Dobson: the third-year receiver received goal line with Tom Brady in a drill that also featured Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman and Scott Chandler. The latter three figure to be obvious red zone targets for Brady (and/or Jimmy Garoppolo). Depending on how long Brandon LaFell (PUP list) is out, Dobson will have a nice opportunity to make his mark.
After the drill, Brady spent considerable time talking with Chandler, the 6-foot-7 tight end who signed this past offseason after a successful stint with the Bills.
Later in the practice, only Gronkowski, Edelman and Chandler took part in an individual catching drill that seemed to focus on hand quickness.
**Your daily ridiculous Rob Gronkowski play: In red zone 11 vs. 11 drills, Gronk snagged a high pass from Jimmy Garoppolo in the endzone. Immediately after he caught it with two hands, he took away to fend off Tavon Wilson, who was attempting to knock it out of Gronk's grasp. A backpedaling Gronk simply discarded Wilson and held on for the touchdown.
**Travaris Cadet, Danny Amendola and Josh Boyce got work on kick returns.
**Alan Branch and LeGarrette Blount, both on the non-football injury list, were present without helmets. Neither participated. It has been reported that Blount failed his physical.
**Dominique Easley, on the PUP list, was at practice but did not participate. Ryan Wendell, also on the PUP list, was present as well.
**Like OTAs and minicamp, the Patriots were not wearing numbers on their shirts, shorts or helmets.
