Karon Prunty, Charles Woods among Patriots’ cornerbacks taking advantage of increased reps at training camp

FOXBOROUGH – The Patriots got a trial run of a major what-if scenario on Saturday.

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Cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones did the usual end-of-practice sprints before jogging off the field. Carlton Davis III missed yet another practice. The absences of Gonzalez and Jones were a chance to keep them fresh, but it still created an avenue for depth guys in the room to prove themselves with the first team defense.

“It’s always good to get the reps,” fifth-round rookie Karon Prunty said. “It’s just another opportunity to be able to show what you can do, just prove yourself. I’m just out here living my dreams and everything like that and just taking advantage of all my opportunities.”

Prunty was one of the many cornerbacks to get plenty of reps on Saturday. He lined up across from both A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs early in team practice periods.

He also got work against some of the backup receivers, making a highlight-reel interception on a Tommy DeVito deep ball intended for rookie receiver Cameron Dorner.

“Every play I’m always expecting the ball to come my way … soon as I was on body with my man, I looked back for the ball, I seen his eyes going so I looked up, seen the ball in the air and I [got the interception], Prunty said.”

Prunty played six years of college football, spending time at Kansas ADD (2020-21) and North Carolina A&T (2022-24) before a year at Wake Forest (2025). In his lone season with the Demon Deacons, he logged 40 total tackles and an interception, being named a third-team All-ACC selection.

Jones doesn’t think Prunty’s extended college career has made a difference, but said the young cornerback has come in ready to work.

“Ever since he came into the room and everything, he’s trying to learn the defense when it comes down to it,” Jones said. “Asking the vets, how do we see this coverage, how do we see different formations and everything, and whatever we learn in the classroom, he applies it to the field and everything.”

Prunty has competition if he wants to move up in the depth chart. At the top of that list is Charles Woods, who’s been taking first-team reps in place of Davis.

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Woods was claimed off waivers by the Patriots ahead of last season, totaling 15 tackles and a pass deflection while ranking fifth among the team’s corners in snaps played (11.4 percent).

He is confident in his improvements headed into this campaign.

“I took a next step that my coaches wanted to see this offseason,” Woods said on Friday. “I’ve honed down on the playbook, honed down on details, and I’ve just been taking a step every day.”

Outside of the starters and Woods, the only returning corner to play for the Patriots last season was Kobee Minor (39 snaps). The Patriots signed veteran Kindle Vildor this offseason and Marcellas Dial Jr., a 2024 sixth-round pick, is back after missing last season with a torn ACL.

Each player got their fair share of reps against the offense’s top unit, whether for scout team or on defensive emphasis periods. Even covering receivers like Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams, it’s been an opportunity to sharpen their skills.

The progression of the depth players in the group is important, especially considering the situations of Gonzalez and Davis.

Gonzalez is in the middle of contract negotiations. While he’s been a full participant outside of Saturday, negotiations could sour. There’s also no telling when Davis will be back, as Mike Vrabel declined to give a timeline on Saturday.

But either of them not being present around cut-down day at the end of this month is purely a hypothetical. The Patriots’ depth players have seized the additional reps and hope to take advantage.

“I think any time I’m out here on this field, it’s an opportunity,” Woods said. “It’s a million guys that want to be on this field so anytime I step up and take this grass, I take full advantage of it.”

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