FOXBORO – The Patriots will be wrapping up their offseason team activities this week, with a final on-field practice on Tuesday serving as the last glimpse we'll have at the team until training camp.

Tuesday's practice was another spirited session, with Christian Gonzalez's effortless one-handed interception up the sideline serving as the play of the day. After seeing Drake Maye and the Pats offense complete many of their passes on Monday, the defense struck back on Tuesday, making big plays that were often accompanied by plenty of supportive shouts and celebrations from their fellow defenders in blue practice jerseys.

It was a fitting finale for Mike Vrabel's new team, as Vrabel has successfully made it through the spring and laid the groundwork for training camp, scheduled to open to the public on Wednesday, July 23.

Once again, rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson was hard to miss. Henderson's explosiveness jumps off the field, and he's been a consistent factor during team periods, showcasing a versatile skill set that could make him a key contributor in his first NFL season.

"I'm enjoying it," Henderson said after practice of his initiation into the NFL. "Learning a lot and growing… it's a bit of a fire hose, but I'm taking it all in." The rookie has embraced the challenge of adapting to the Patriots' system, crediting the organization for helping him adjust quickly. "They've done a pretty good job helping us get acclimated," he noted. "I'm getting to know my teammates and coaches, and I'm enjoying it."

One area where Henderson particularly stood out in college is in pass protection, a skill not often highlighted in rookie backs and one that can often delay their playing time at the next level.

Despite being listed at 5-foot-10 and not the heaviest back on the roster, Henderson's technique and mindset have set him apart. "It definitely comes down to technique," he explained. "I had some great running back coaches in college, Coach Tony Alford and Coach Carlos Locklyn, who really helped me with that. And then it's about mentality. I like to say I do it for the love—love of my quarterback, love of my brothers on the perimeter. I want to make sure they get the ball and I help the team however I can."

That team-first mentality is already resonating in the Patriots locker room. Henderson has been working closely with veterans like Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson, who have welcomed him into the running back room.

"They've been helping me out a lot," Henderson said. "It's been good getting to know those guys and practicing alongside them."

Beyond his blocking, Henderson has also flashed playmaking ability. He's been getting his hands on the ball and making things happen. "It's crazy, man," he said with a smile. "I just want to continue to grow and get better."

Stefon Diggs: "A Dog on a Leash," Eager for Training Camp

Although Stefon Diggs hasn't been able to participate in team drills during minicamp, the veteran receiver made it clear he's attacking his rehab with purpose and focus.

"I'm grinding each and every day," Diggs said. "Honestly, I can't do much of the team stuff, but I'm eager to get out there. So, whenever they do press the button, I'm going to be ready."

Stuck spending his offseason rehabbing from his torn ACL instead of his usual training regimen, Diggs said he wasn't always confident, but he's worked his way back into form. "I took my rehab pretty serious. In the beginning phases, I wasn't as confident, I was just trying it out but it was a good thing… When I came back here, I was in the mindset of trying to get after it and get going."

The 10-year vet also acknowledged his evolving role as a mentor to New England's young group of receivers. "We've got a lot of young guys. They've got a lot of potential. It's crazy to be around. They ask a lot of questions. I try to help them out as much as I can." And when it comes to his own outlook, Diggs summed it up perfectly, "It's kinda like a dog on a leash—I wanna go. It's the timing of everything and I'm looking forward to training camp."

Until then, Diggs is staying locked in mentally, taking "mental reps" and soaking in the playbook. "I can't play outside with my friends yet," he joked, "but if I don't know the play, I want to hear it—just hearing as much as I can. That's why I look forward to training camp. That's when you put the pedal to the metal."

Will Campbell: Soaking Up Knowledge, Staying Behind to Improve

While most of the Patriots roster breaks for the summer, rookies like offensive lineman Will Campbell aren't going anywhere just yet. "Rookies, we're still gonna be here, we're still gonna be working," he said following the final minicamp session. "We don't go home for a couple weeks, so just really getting better at everything, coming back and being a better player than I am today, is the biggest thing I can do to help this team moving forward."

Campbell has already leaned heavily on the veterans in the offensive line room, particularly Morgan Moses. "Whenever you're a rookie at any position, you look for a guy that has done it the right way, proven himself, and is a great person you can latch onto," Campbell said. "He's just been great to me—not only me but all the guys in the room. That goes for guys like Garrett [Bradbury] and big Mike [Onwenu] too."

With Moses, Onwenu, and others setting the tone, Campbell said the transition to the NFL has been eased by the culture of mentorship. "We have a lot of guys who have played a lot of football, and they've been very good to the young guys, even the guys in their second year, just helping us in any way they can. Just giving us any bits and pieces of advice."

For Campbell, the next few weeks aren't about rest, they're about rising to the level of those around him.

Efton Chism: Studying the Slot Legends to Prepare for Camp

For undrafted rookie wide receiver Efton Chism, he already knows how he'll be spending the break. Chism plans to dive deep into Patriots history, specifically, the legacy of receivers who thrived in this system under Josh McDaniels.

"One of my goals the next couple weeks when we get time off is just to go through a bunch of seasons, watch a bunch of games, and see how they did it," he said.

With New England bringing back many of the same offensive principles from McDaniels' tenure, Chism is looking to model his game after the likes of Julian Edelman, Wes Welker, and others. "It's pretty much the same offense, a lot of the same stuff," Chism noted. "Just see how they did it and try to develop that into my game."

Coming from Eastern Washington and the FCS level, Chism knows that beating man coverage will be one of the biggest tests at the NFL level. "I just love the way they get open versus man," he said of Patriots receivers of the past. "They feel zones very well. That's very special with all of them, when they sit, when they run, certain things like that."

Smart, technical, and hungry to learn, Chism has a clear vision for how to close the gap and come into training camp prepared after standing out with multiple pass catches throughout the open spring practices. "In this league, especially coming from the FCS, they're going to say man coverage is going to be the biggest part of getting open," he said. "Just seeing what they did."

Vrabel likes what he's seen from Chism during the OTA period.

"I think he's a talented player," said Vrabel. "I think he has a certain skill set. He's dedicated. He's studied extremely hard. He has a good feel for what we're asking him to do. I think the biggest thing for receivers is that there's trust from the guy that throws the football. When you earn the quarterback's trust – any one of them that we have, any one of the three – it doesn't take you long to figure out who the quarterback trusts. It's the ones they target. That's a good indicator."

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