After a league-mandated three days off, the Patriots were back in Foxborough on Monday, getting in what head coach Jerod Mayo termed a "bonus" practice as they embarked on their first week of regular season game prep with the Cincinnati Bengals settling into their crosshairs.

"Every day is a learning experience for me and I'm excited to go through this week and really prepare with the guys that are going to be out there on the field," said Mayo, who kicked Monday off with an early afternoon press conference. "Cincinnati, they offer many challenges, offensively and defensively, that we're going to have to have answers for. I think the guys are ready to go."

Mayo also officially announced the team's captains for 2024, noting that for the first time, players would wear the "C" patch on their jerseys that many other teams around the league have employed since the 2007 season.

"What happens inside the building, that's always the most important thing, but I do think it's like a badge of honor," said Mayo of the captain patches. "I think when guys do the right thing, they should be recognized for those things. It's something that's small just having the captain's patch, but I think it's important for those guys."

The team's locker room was open before practice and most of the newly-elected captains spoke with gratitude that they had been recognized as leaders by the team and described their plans to embrace their roles.

"It's an honor to be elected captain by my peers, the obligation to always uphold the standard of what it takes to lead these guys," said Deatrich Wise Jr., a now three-time captain who added the standard meant, "coming in every day, ready to work, looking at the glass half full, doing the right things, saying things that help motivate our guys to improve and get better."

"Being named captain for the New England Patriots is an incredible honor," said first-time captain Joe Cardona. "What a captain means to me is someone who empowers their teammates, someone who works for the top man on the roster down to the 16th man on the practice squad and represents them to the coaches and to the fans as a whole."

While three of the six captains have been captains before, Cardona, Jacoby Brissett and Jabrill Peppers represent three first-timers, as the team shifts toward a new dynamic.

"I'm a guy who wants to lead by example, regardless if I'm a captain or not, and I was always taught example first, voice second, but it does feel good," said Peppers. "I always attack the week the same way, but like I said, when you wear that patch, there's definitely huge responsibility that comes with it."

David Andrews, named captain for an eighth season, is the most-tenured leader in New England and one of the most important cogs on the offense. The veteran center will be counted upon as the new-look offensive line, which is battling injuries to two summer starters, hopes to come together against a veteran group of Bengals defenders.

Andrews expressed his support for first-time captain Brissett, as the two were teammates early in their careers and have now come full circle as leaders for the 2024 Pats.

"I think [Jacoby] deserves it. He's done a great job for us all year with his leadership," said Andrews. "It's been cool for me to see him as a rookie, and then, coming back now, kind of growing into himself. I think he's done a great job."

"[Jacoby] is a mentor, which is reflected in the captain's voting," said Mayo. "I think he's a mentor to the entire offensive side of the ball. He's familiar with the offense, and at the same time, he knew he was in a competition and still remained steady, which is something you definitely appreciate from your quarterback position."

Patriots players will be off on Tuesday and then return for a regular game week schedule starting Wednesday. They'll open their 2024 season at 1 pm EST on Sunday in Cincinnati.

Practice Squad Finalized

On Monday the Patriots officially announced the final two members of their practice squad with the signings of linebackers Joe Giles-Harris and Yvandy Rigby. Here's the full practice squad broken down by position:

• RBs (2): Terrell Jennings, Kevin Harris
• WRs (2): Jalen Reagor, Matt Landers
• TE (1): Mitchell Wilcox
• G (3): Jerome Carvin, Michael Jordan, Liam Fornadel
• C (1): Bryan Hudson
• DT (1): Trysten Hill
• DE (1): Brevin Allen
• OLB (2): Ochaun Mathis, Jotham Russell
• LB (2): Joe Giles-Harris, Yvandy Rigby
• CB (1): Isaiah Bolden
• S (1): A.J. Thomas

Practice Squad Notes

• Including the 53-man roster and the practice squad, the team added four new offensive linemen who were not with the team during training camp.
• Dell Pettus was the only undrafted rookie to make the 53-man roster while running back Terrell Jennings and defensive end Jothan Russell were the only two to make the practice squad. Rigby was an undrafted rookie who spent training camp with the Ravens.
• The front seven also saw extensive reinforcement arrive post-cutdown, with three new faces on the practice squad and two, Curtis Jacobs and Eric Johnson, joining the active roster.
• Jotham Russell's exemption as an international pathway player allows the Patriots to have 17 practice squad players.
• Teams can elevate two practice squad players on gameday and each player can be elevated a maximum of three times before they'd have to be moved to the active roster to be activated.

Practice Report

The Patriots seem to be fairly healthy entering the season, however, injuries to two offensive linemen have complicated things at that one specific position group. Vederian Lowe was banged up with what is reportedly an oblique injury late in training camp while Sidy Sow suffered an apparent ankle injury during the final preseason game. Lowe was present and watching practice but not fully participating, while Sow, who spoke with reporters in the locker room before practice, was a full absence.

Their participation will again be a main storyline to focus on once the players return to Gillette Stadium on Wednesday. The first injury report of the year will also be released on Wednesday, giving a full picture of the team's health as they kick off the 2024 campaign.

DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer