The New England Patriots are gearing up for their first football game of the season this Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts, but if you were hoping to see their starting quarterback, Drake Maye, under center, prepare to be disappointed. Head coach Mike Vrabel just dropped the news during a press conference on Tuesday, ahead of the team’s joint practice with the Colts, that he does not anticipate Maye hitting the field for the preseason opener. It’s a definite shift, and it leaves us all scratching our heads about what the plan truly is.
Vrabel’s Game Plan
Coach Vrabel was pretty clear with his words, though he left a tiny crack in the door. “I wouldn’t anticipate seeing Drake out there on Thursday, but that’s all subject to change,” Vrabel explained to the press. He made it sound like his mindset is set for now, focusing on the bigger picture. “Really, it’s just important that we get the work in and get things accomplished that we’re looking to get accomplished.” So, while it *could* change, don’t hold your breath for Maye. This means all eyes will be on current backup Tommy DeVito and seventh-round rookie Behren Morton, who are set to split the quarterback duties against Indianapolis. What an early test for those guys, huh?
A Departure from Tradition
This decision by Vrabel isn’t just a minor tweak, it’s a full-on change of course for the third-year quarterback. Think back to Maye’s earlier days. As a rookie in 2024, he got six snaps in his very first NFL game against the Panthers during the preseason. Then, last year, in the 2025 preseason opener versus the Commanders, he saw a solid 14 snaps. To go from that kind of early exposure to zero snaps in his third year? That’s a significant strategy pivot. Vrabel also touched on the broader strategy for balancing player workloads, saying, “A lot of the front-line players and whoever’s available, some of the guys maybe won’t get as much work today, will get extensive work in the game on Thursday. That’s just how it goes. Let’s see how today goes and we can always adjust and plan accordingly.” It sounds like they’re playing a chess match, moving pieces between Tuesday’s practice and Thursday’s game.
So, what’s next for the Patriots? The first preseason game kicks off on Thursday against the Colts, with DeVito and Morton getting the snaps. We’re all going to be watching closely to see what Vrabel means by “adjust and plan accordingly” and how this decision impacts Maye’s season development moving forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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