5 questions facing the Patriots in training camp

NFC Camp Previews
DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS
CHI | DET | GB | MIN
ATL | CAR | NO | TB
ARI | STL | SF | SEA
AFC Camp Previews
BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ
BAL | CIN | CLE | PIT
HOU | IND | JAX | TEN
DEN | KC | OAK | SD

Last season ended on a high note for the New England Patriots, but it was not without controversy. The Wells Report came down hard on the Super Bowl XLIX champions, and the NFL responded by handing quarterback Tom Brady a four-game suspension and docking the team two draft picks.

As the Patriots look to move on from the "Deflategate" scandal, they must also prepare for a shifting landscape in the AFC East following big offseason acquisitions by their division rivals.

Here are five questions facing the Patriots heading into training camp:

Is Garoppolo a capable replacement for Brady?

The Patriots haven't opened a season without Brady as their starting quarterback since 2001. Now, they will temporarily hand over the reins to second-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Reports out of minicamp were very complimentary of the former second-round pick, who got a chance to work side-by-side with Brady during 11-on-11 sessions.

If Brady's full suspension holds up, Garoppolo will lead the Patriots offense against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Dallas Cowboys in the first four weeks of the season.

Who will emerge at cornerback?

The Patriots experienced an exodus at cornerback this offseason, parting ways with starters Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner along with Alfonzo Dennard and Kyle Arrington.

Among the returnees is Malcolm Butler, who appears primed to take on a bigger role following his Super Bowl heroics. Logan Ryan and Bradley Fletcher will likely battle it out for the second starting job, though seventh-round pick Darryl Roberts could be in the mix as well if he continues to impress the way he did during minicamp.

Robert McClain is the early favorite to take over Arrington's slot role, with Justin Green, Jimmy Jean, and Dax Swanson battling it out for the remaining spots. It will also be interesting to see whether the Patriots move safety Devin McCourty back to cornerback, where he spent his first two NFL seasons.

Who will lead the new-look rushing committee​?

Cornerback isn't the only position the Patriots need to sort out during training camp. With the offseason departures of Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley, New England's running-back-by-committee will have a much different look this season.

The Patriots enter camp with seven running backs on their roster, LeGarrette Blount being the most experienced of the bunch and the front-runner to lead the backfield. Blount was suspended for the season opener, though, meaning Jonas Gray will likely get the start in Week 1.

There's also the question of who will fill Vereen's role as third-down running back. James White, Travaris Cadet, Brandon Bolden, and Dion Lewis are all in the mix and appear to have been splitting reps so far. Reports indicate that White and Cadet are leading the race after OTAs. Bolden has been with the Patriots the longest, but is used primarily on special teams.

How will Easley's knees hold up?

Dominique Easley tore the ACL in both knees during his college career at Florida and missed most of his senior season, but he was too talented for the Patriots to pass up in the first round of the 2014 draft.

Easley's first NFL season proved equally frustrating, as he continued to experience complications and was eventually placed on injured reserve. He admitted during minicamp that his knees still aren't 100 percent, but has said he'll be fully ready for training camp.

That's good news, because New England will need a lot more out of him now that Vince Wilfork has left town.

When will the Patriots get their injured bodies back?

Injuries and offseason surgeries kept several key players off the field during minicamp, including linebackers Dont'a Hightower and Jerod Mayo, defensive end Chandler Jones, defensive tackle Sealver Siliga, wide receiver Brandon LaFell, right tackle Sebastian Vollmer, and center/guard Ryan Wendell.

Hightower underwent surgery in February to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder and was expected to be sidelined for six or seven months, putting his Week 1 availability in question.

Vollmer is also recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum, but will reportedly be back for training camp.

It's still unclear when Mayo will return, as he's been taking things slow since undergoing surgery on his torn patellar tendon in October. Mayo and Hightower are the most likely candidates to begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list.