The New England Patriots returned to the practice field on Wednesday for their 18th session of this year's training camp. While the intensity was dialed down compared to previous practices, there were still notable performances that caught the eye. Here's a recap of the action and standout players from the session.

Quarterback Drake Maye continues to make strides in his quest to secure the backup role behind Jacoby Brissett. Maye led all quarterbacks in reps on Wednesday and displayed better consistency compared to his veteran competition. Notably, he had the opportunity to work with starting center David Andrews during 11-on-11 drills, further proving his progress as a first-round rookie.

With Vederian Lowe sidelined due to injury, rookie offensive tackle Caedan Wallace seized the opportunity to earn more playing time with the starting offensive line. Despite being a third-round pick, Wallace didn't look out of place and showcased his skills on both sides of the line. He impressed by winning his one-on-one matchups against Anfernee Jennings and Jotham Russell, suggesting he could contend for a starting spot at left or right tackle.

Guard Layden Robinson, the Patriots' fourth-round draft pick, is making a strong case for a starting role according to head coach Jerod Mayo. Robinson had a solid showing in practice, winning both of his one-on-one blocking drills and rotating in at left guard. He has been displaying continued improvement and could potentially secure a spot in the starting lineup.

In the kicking battle, Joey Slye gained an edge over Chad Ryland with a stellar performance on Wednesday. Slye successfully converted all four of his field goal attempts from various distances, going 33, 41, 47, and 50 yards. His accuracy and consistency have been impressive throughout training camp, bringing his total successful field goals to 40 out of 48 attempts this summer.

Unfortunately for Ryland, his performance on Wednesday was less than ideal. He only made one out of his four field goal attempts, missing from 41 yards, hitting the right upright from 47 yards, and missing wide right from 50 yards. With Slye pulling ahead, Ryland's chances of retaining his spot as the team's kicker appear to be diminishing.

Other notable mentions include rookie wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk, who continues to earn regular reps with the starting offense and caught two passes from Drake Maye. Marcus Jones made an interception off Joe Milton, showcasing his playmaking ability, while Daniel Ekuale proved to be a worthy opponent in one-on-one matchups against Michael Onwenu.

The Patriots will be hitting the practice field again on Thursday for another closed session. While the general public won't be able to attend, members of the media will have access to cover the practice. Stay tuned for more updates on Patriots training camp from Pats Pulpit.