Few Minnesota Vikings fans shed a tear when the team cut ties with former first-round draft pick Garrett Bradbury this offseason. They were too busy celebrating additions like guard Will Fries, center Ryan Kelly, and a slew of other roster upgrades from GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and crew.
If anything, fans were likely annoyed that the Vikings failed to get even a seventh-round draft pick in return for Bradbury, their former starting center of the past six years. Instead, Bradbury spent all of two days as a free agent before the New England Patriots swooped in and signed him to a two-year contract.
The Patriots had a need at center with all-time franchise great David Andrews at the end of his 10-year NFL career. Still, Bradbury wasn’t exactly handed the keys to a starting job when he arrived in Foxboro. He’s faced competition in training camp from standout rookie Jared Wilson and third-year pro Ben Brown — but the competition appears to be over after Bradbury’s sterling debut in New England’s preseason opener against the Washington Commanders.
Former Minnesota Vikings center Garrett Bradbury was a top New England Patriots performer in preseason debut
Bradbury opened the preseason with New England’s first-team offense — and he made a grand impression. He played 13 snaps with starting quarterback Drake Maye, and Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 92.7, the highest of all Patriots players in the game.
While the Patriots’ passing game in Maye’s two series left plenty to be desired, the running game looked dominant. Bradbury was a key cog in that department, per Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal:
“The most positive and surprising performance on the line was by Bradbury. He had two outstanding run blocks, and was clean in the pass game. This is a big week for him, going back to Minnesota.”
Bradbury also allowed zero pressures on his five pass-blocking reps in the game, per PFF's metrics. It’s obviously a small sample size, and the Commanders were undermanned and sat the majority of their starters on defense. But Bradbury will enter this week’s joint practices with the Vikings with some positive momentum behind him.
Garrett Bradbury has a ton to prove in preseason Week 2 — and it has nothing to do with the Patriots
Bradbury’s return to the TCO Performance Center could come with some awkward moments this week, but at least he’s getting his return to Minnesota out of the way early.
The Vikings will host joint practice sessions with the Patriots on Wednesday and Thursday at their training complex in Eagan ahead of Saturday’s preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium (noon CST). While Bradbury has said all the right things since being released by Minnesota on March 17, he’s certain to have mixed emotions as he lines up opposite Harrison Phillips once again and sees some old friends on the field.
Patriots Tuesday
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 12, 2025
🛫 Team travels to Minnesota
NOTES: 11 players held out of Monday practice (Stevenson, Henry, Gonzo etc.) ... Former Viking Garrett Bradbury on return for practices: "Crazy. It will be great to see all the former guys. This business is about relationships."
The personal aspect aside, the Vikings should provide a monstrous litmus test for Bradbury and New England’s young offense. With Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel coming off the EDGE, and some added force up front in Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, the Patriots should find out where they’re at in a hurry this week.
The second preseason game is always tough to gauge. This week tends to be a big one for second- and third-string players in Minnesota, and the Patriots will likely follow suit. The good stuff will come during these back-to-back days of joint practices, and Bradbury will be right in the middle of it (with plenty to prove).