The New England Patriots just wrapped up their preseason with a pretty uninspiring 37-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns, finishing with a perfectly balanced 1-1-1 record. But honestly, the score wasn’t even the biggest story coming out of Gillette Stadium. Nope, the real shocker was that Drake Maye and all the other starters played a grand total of ZERO preseason snaps this summer. Can you believe that? Zero.
Vrabel’s Big Bet: Starters on Ice Until Week 1
Yeah, you read that right. Maye and the rest of the starting crew were completely sidelined through the entire exhibition schedule. Head Coach Mike Vrabel tried to explain it, saying, “I just think that it’s best for us right now to try to start next week with the guys that we have.” He admitted it was a “difficult decision” and there’s “no right or wrong answer,” but their goal was to “get to the regular season with the guys that we had.” It’s a wild move, especially when you consider it’s a completely different approach from his first year in 2025. Sure, they held three joint practices with the Colts and Eagles, but a few reps in practice versus actual game speed is a whole different ballgame. Is Vrabel playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers, or is this a gamble that could backfire big time?
The Backup Scramble: Who Stepped Up (And Who Didn’t)
With the starters chilling on the sideline, it was all about the backups fighting for reps. The Patriots’ offense was on the field for 59 snaps, totaling 23:56 of game time. Center Jacob Rizy was an ironman, playing all 59 snaps. QB Behren Morton took 50 snaps, 85 percent of the offensive plays, after taking over late in the first quarter and closing out the game. Tommy DeVito, the other backup quarterback, only played 9 snaps, handling the first two series. The source makes it clear there’s “no real competition between the two QBs,” which kinda tells you Morton is the guy if Maye goes down.
At running back, Lan Larison and Hassan Haskins were the first ones out there. Larison also left after just two series with DeVito, while Haskins stuck around, finishing with a team-leading 11 carries for 38 yards. Remember Jam Miller, that RB3 competitor? He didn’t even take the field. He was limited in the final practice, which is never a good sign for a guy trying to make the squad. Other notable snap counts included Dametrious Crownover (50 snaps), Mehki Butler (47 snaps), and Joseph Michalski (47 snaps).
So, what does this all mean? The Patriots head into the regular season with a starting lineup that hasn’t taken a single game snap together this preseason. It’s a bold strategy, no doubt. Next week, the real games start, and we’ll see if Vrabel’s belief in his guys, despite the lack of live game reps, pays off or leaves them scrambling. Get ready, it’s gonna be an interesting ride.
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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