New England Patriots rookies have benefitted from key absences during organized team activities practices.

During Tuesday's practice, six rookies were getting top reps. And while that will certainly change as more veteran players return to practice, they're key reps that will help as the young players continue to develop.

Here's an update on every Patriots rookie after two open practices:

CB Christian Gonzalez

Media got its first chance to see Gonzalez at practice Tuesday. The first-round pick was immediately lined up with other starters on defense. The Patriots need his size and speed to take on bigger wide receivers.

DE Keion White

White isn’t quite as far along as Gonzalez, but it was noticeable that when Deatrich Wise had to take a lap, the second-rounder was the first off the sideline to replace him.

LB Marte Mapu

It was a little bit surprising to see Mapu work more at safety in Tuesday’s practice after being more heavily involved in the middle of the field in Week 1. Mapu did primarily play defensive back in college, and it’s possible that his usage was tied to Adrian Phillips’ absence. The safety and linebacker position are somewhat interchangeable in the Patriots’ defense, and veteran Kyle Dugger stressed the importance of learning both when asked about Mapu on Tuesday. Perhaps the 2023 third-round pick could be an option to replace Devin McCourty at free safety.

G/C Jake Andrews

Andrews has received work at center and guard. He looks a bit undersized at guard, and fifth-round pick Atonio Mafi is ahead of him in the pecking order at the position.

K Chad Ryland

Veteran kicker Nick Folk hasn’t been present for voluntary OTAs, so Ryland has received more work. There’s not much to glean so far, but we’ll continue to monitor the fourth-rounder.

OT Sidy Sow

This will likely change when players like Trent Brown and Conor McDermott are back at practice, but for now, Sow is entrenched as a backup right tackle across from Andrew Stueber on the left side. The fourth-round pick mostly played guard in college.

G Atonio Mafi

Mafi was getting starting looks at right guard with Mike Onwenu out. Mafi doesn’t have Onwenu’s arm length, but he’s a similarly built massive guard option.

WR Kayshon Boutte

Boutte got an earful from offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien in Tuesday’s practice when he was slow to get up to the line. He was a full participant after being limited in the first week of OTAs and was working with the top offense since New England's top four wide receivers weren't practicing.

P Bryce Baringer

Baringer was absent this week at OTAs but showed a huge leg in New England’s first open practice. Fellow punter Corliss Waitman was mostly solid but had a pretty major shank on Tuesday.

WR Demario Douglas

Despite being the second wide receiver taken, Douglas seems to be slightly ahead of Boutte at this juncture. Boutte has more upside, but Douglas is smooth and quick out of the slot. Douglas also was getting first-team reps with JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton and Kendrick Bourne as non-participants.

CB Ameer Speed

Speed has received some additional looks on special teams but also was running with the second team at cornerback on Tuesday. At 6-foot-3 with a 4.34-second 40-yard dash, Speed has ideal speed and size for the position if he can figure it all out.

CB Isaiah Bolden

Bolden returned to practice Tuesday after being absent last week. Like Gonzalez and Speed, Bolden is a tall cornerback with a fast 40-yard dash. He’ll need to work his way up the depth chart.

QB/WR Malik Cunningham

Cunningham spent most of last week’s practice at wide receiver before a post-session scout-team 11-on-11 drill at quarterback. With so many absences at wide receiver this week, Cunningham stuck as a pass catcher. He seems to be catching on quickly to the position.

TE Johnny Lumpkin

The main thing that stands out about Lumpkin is his size at 6-foot-5, 264 pounds.

LB Jourdan Heilig

Heilig barely played defense in college at Appalachian State. It made sense to see him still working on special teams during full-team drills.

WR Ed Lee

Lee just signed this week as an undrafted free agent out of URI. He actually got a lot of work with the top four wide receivers absent.

Featured image via Georgia Tech Athletics