The use of Drake Maye in practice confused fans throughout training camp, but for the Patriots coaching staff, the quarterback situation is not that complicated.
Jacoby Brissett has been used primarily on the first line of attack throughout training camp, but after New England’s second preseason game, Maye came into his own and the rookie has been used more frequently in the starting lineup this week.
“Obviously we need to get him out there and watch him play,” offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt told reporters. “Obviously, if possible, we’d like to get him out there with the first group and see him play with the first offense.”
Head coach Jerod Mayo kept the quarterback competition open as Brissett and Maye supported each other throughout the process. The Patriots have not announced their plans for Sunday’s final game of the season, but the decision to start Maye with the first line of offense against the Washington Commanders may not come to fruition for one reason.
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“Jacoby is our starting quarterback right now,” Van Pelt said. “The good news this week is we’re letting everybody play. We’re still in the evaluation process. We have one more preseason game. Our guys are going to play, so we’ll have a chance to evaluate that.”
Van Pelt believed Maye had a “chance” to be a starter in Week 1 and echoed Matyo’s rhetoric about a competition for the best quarterbacks.
As of Thursday afternoon, New England had not announced how much Brissett or Maye would play Sunday, but the 2024 first-round pick’s chances of starting could depend on how he is used at Commanders Field.
