There’s only so much to glean from unpadded organized team activities practices during the spring offseason workout program, and that’s especially true when key players are absent.

That was the case Wednesday during New England’s first open practice of the spring. And while plenty was learned in the two-hour session, some significant questions remain.

Here are two questions we’d like answered Tuesday during New England's second open OTAs session and into their three days of mandatory minicamp next week.

WHICH CORNERBACK IS PLAYING WHERE?

The cornerback question was complicated by absences from first-round pick Christian Gonzalez and 2022 third-round pick Marcus Jones, both of whom could enter the starting mix. With Gonzalez and Marcus Jones out, Jonathan Jones and Jack Jones looked like the top cornerback duo. Myles Bryant and Joshuah Bledsoe saw significant snaps in the slot.

But Gonzalez and Marcus Jones could shift things around. Gonzalez is an outside cornerback, and if he’s being viewed as a starter, then we’ll find out what the Patriots think of Jack Jones. If they look at the 2022 fourth-round pick as a starter, then Jonathan Jones could shift back into the slot.

Marcus Jones primarily played outside last season and in college, but he has the size of a slot cornerback at 5-foot-8, 175 pounds. So, when he returns, does he take a starting outside spot? Will New England experiment with shifting him into the slot?

Here are some potential cornerback combinations we could see this spring and summer:

CB: Jack Jones
CB: Jonathan Jones
Slot: Myles Bryant

CB: Christian Gonzalez
CB: Jack Jones
Slot: Jonathan Jones

CB: Christian Gonzalez
CB: Marcus Jones
Slot: Jonathan Jones

CB: Jack Jones
CB: Marcus Jones
Slot: Jonathan Jones

CB: Christian Gonzalez
CB: Jonathan Jones
Slot: Marcus Jones

CB: Jack Jones
CB: Jonathan Jones
Slot: Marcus Jones

WHO ARE THE ODD MEN OUT ON OFFENSE?

Wide receiver and top free-agent pickup JuJu Smith-Schuster was also out Wednesday, muddling up who are the top options at wide receiver and tight end.

It was tight end Hunter Henry and a combination of wide receivers DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton, Kendrick Bourne and tight end Mike Gesicki on Wednesday. It seems likely that Smith-Schuster will bump one of those wide receivers out of the mix. Our guess would be that Bourne could be pushed down a spot. Parker appears to be the top X-receiver option, Thornton needs reps as a young player (plus he was the top standout in Wednesday’s session), and it seems like New England has a plan to use Henry and Gesicki as a tight end duo at times. Bourne is a little bit more redundant with how Smith-Schuster and Thornton are best utilized.

We’ll find out when Smith-Schuster is back in the mix, however. New England also has a level of interest in free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Featured image via Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports