Stephon Gilmore still absent, other Patriots news

FOXBORO – The Patriots second day of minicamp was all about Mac Jones. For the second day in a row, the rookie took the reins and looked like the best quarterback at Gillette Stadium.

After seeing three open OTAs, it’s clear that Jones is making strides. On Tuesday, he took more reps than any quarterback in attendance and looked more polished and decisive. There were some hiccups in the end with two interceptions, but Jones outplayed Cam Newton and Jarrett Stidham.

Overall, Jones completed 17/25 passes in team drills. That included two interceptions at the end of practice to Dont’a Hightower, who jumped in front of a pass to Dalton Keene, and Kyle Van Noy, who caught a ball tipped at the line of scrimmage. Jones went 9/13 in 11-on-11s and 8/12 in 7-on-7s.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (50) passes the ball as offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, left, looks on during an NFL football practice in Foxborough, Mass., Thursday, June 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

The 25 passes thrown in team drills were a team high. Cam Newton went 9/17 with

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