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Mike Vrabel makes notable Drake Maye decision before Patriots preseason opener originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots appear ready to take a cautious approach with their franchise quarterback when they begin the preseason Thursday night.
Head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters Tuesday that Drake Maye is not expected to play in New England’s exhibition opener against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Vrabel left himself some flexibility, noting that the plan remains subject to change. Barring a late reversal, however, Maye will watch from the sideline as the Patriots begin preparing for another run at the Super Bowl. The decision is understandable considering what Maye means to the organization. New England has much more to lose than gain by exposing its most important player to unnecessary hits in the first preseason game.
Patriots have little reason to risk Drake Maye
Maye is coming off a sensational second NFL season in which he established himself as one of the league’s premier young quarterbacks. The former No. 3 overall pick completed an NFL-best 72% of his passes for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns and only eight interceptions during the 2025 regular season. His 8.9 yards per attempt also led the league, while his 113.5 passer rating reflected the dramatic progress he made as a passer.
Maye added 450 rushing yards and four touchdowns, giving New England a dynamic dual-threat presence behind center. His breakout campaign helped the Patriots reach Super Bowl LX before their season ended with a 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
After Maye took 47 sacks during the regular season and another 21 in the playoffs, protecting him has become an obvious priority. There is little value in putting him behind a makeshift offensive line during an exhibition game, particularly with several roster spots still being determined.
Maye also does not need preseason snaps to secure his role. He is firmly established as the Patriots’ starter and enters his third season with legitimate MVP expectations after finishing as the runner-up for the award in 2025.
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Patriots’ backup quarterbacks move into spotlight
With Maye likely unavailable, Thursday’s game should provide an extended look at New England’s other quarterbacks. Tommy DeVito and rookie Behren Morton are the other signal-callers listed on the Patriots’ roster. Both should have an opportunity to make an impression against Indianapolis while competing for positioning behind Maye.
DeVito brings NFL experience after beginning his career with the New York Giants. Morton, meanwhile, is attempting to prove he can translate his college production into a dependable professional role. Their performances will matter far more to the Patriots’ roster evaluation than anything Maye could accomplish in a limited preseason appearance. Vrabel and his staff need to determine whether they have a trustworthy option if Maye is forced to miss time during the regular season.
New England opens its preseason schedule against Indianapolis at 6:30 p.m. ET Thursday. The Patriots still have time to adjust their plan, but every indication is that their franchise quarterback will be held out of the opener. After Maye carried New England within one victory of a championship last season, caution is the logical choice.
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