Why Drake Maye didn't play preseason; will it matter in Week 1?

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. Maye-less preseason: The preseason is over, and the final starting quarterback numbers are in.

Of the league's 32 teams, 12 didn't play their established top quarterback in a game. That includes Drake Maye's Patriots and Sam Darnold's Seattle Seahawks, putting an added twist on the Super Bowl LX rematch that opens the 2026 regular season on Wednesday, Sept. 9 (NBC, 8:20 p.m. ET).

Will both quarterbacks be rusty without feeling game speed? Is the element of surprise in play more than it would have otherwise been?

Those are among the compelling questions to be answered in Seattle.

Also of note is that keeping Maye on the sideline throughout didn't appear to be Patriots coach Mike Vrabel's original intention.

When Vrabel first connected with Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken about plans for last Thursday's preseason finale, Monken shared they "had talked about initially wanting to play our starters -- get them a series or two." But Monken said both coaches ultimately came to the same conclusion: "We both felt like we were thin, especially up front on both sides of the ball. We just felt we'd be better off not playing our starters in the game."

So it was a Maye-less, starter-less preseason in New England, which Vrabel explained further late Thursday night after his backups were thumped 37-13 in a low-energy, short-week loss.

"We just wanted to try to get to the regular season with the guys that we had ... I know that's a difficult decision. I don't think there's a right or wrong answer," Vrabel said.

How teams approach the preseason with their starting quarterback is a reflection, in part, of each coach and the organizational philosophy. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, for example, hasn't played in a preseason game since 2019. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson hasn't played in a preseason game since 2021.

Other teams that didn't have their starter play in the preseason this year include the Steelers (Aaron Rodgers), Colts (Daniel Jones), Jaguars (Trevor Lawrence), Chiefs (Patrick Mahomes), Eagles (Jalen Hurts), Lions (Jared Goff), Saints (Tyler Shough) and Rams (Matthew Stafford). In the case of the Colts' Jones and Chiefs' Mahomes, they are both returning from serious injuries sustained in 2025.

Meanwhile, Lawrence landed in a similar situation as Maye in the sense that he had played last preseason under new coach Liam Coen but was held out this preseason. Coen said a driving factor in the decision was the work Lawrence received over four joint practices with the Saints, Panthers and Buccaneers. Last year, the Jaguars had just one joint practice.

Some coaches believe those joint practices are equally as beneficial as preseason games, with teams more willing to run schemes they wouldn't in a game (when schemes would be on tape for the rest of the league to see). Another benefit is that practices are controlled, situations can be created that won't come up in a game, and quarterbacks can't be hit.

The Patriots had three joint practices (one with the Colts, two with the Eagles), and Vrabel estimated that meant about 84 full-team reps for Maye.

That was good work, but to some coaches, there's no substitute for a quarterback playing in a game when the defense can finish a sack or a hit in the pocket. Former Patriots coach Bill Belichick used to adopt that philosophy, saying at times, "You need 21 other guys out there so you can simulate football and the reactions of football."

In a decision he seemed to be wrestling with at times, Vrabel was navigating that balance with Maye and the starters this preseason.

2. Injuries mount: As the Patriots set their initial 53-man roster by Sunday's 6 p.m. ET deadline, they are dealing with a more significant injury report than they were at this time last year.

They lost No. 2 tight end Julian Hill to a season-ending knee injury in the spring, and the surefire leader for the No. 3 running back role, Terrell Jennings, was placed on injured reserve and later reached an injury settlement. Top backup interior offensive lineman Ben Brown, top swing offensive tackle Marcus Bryant and punter Bryce Baringer are candidates to be placed on IR with a designation to return.

That's one reason, along with shaky drafting before Vrabel's tenure began, that Vrabel referenced the Patriots as "not a very deep team" after the second preseason game.

Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf noted the contrast.

"We've had some injuries here that obviously thinned things out," he said. "We were pretty lucky, knock on wood, last year with some of the injury things that we had."

3. Setting schedule: The Patriots' backups looked lethargic in Thursday's preseason finale, which wasn't entirely a surprise considering they were on the road after playing five days prior. A short week like this in the preseason from the NFL's schedule-makers seemed totally unnecessary.

Vrabel gave players three straight days off to refill their tanks, saying it might benefit everyone to get away.

They return Monday, with the next two practices set for Tuesday and Thursday. After a Friday off day, they then plan to practice Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Sept. 7, before departing for Seattle later on Monday.

That will give them a full day in Seattle on Sept. 8 before the opener.

4. They said it: "I have conversations with Christian, and I understand this is probably something that's difficult. ... Him and I communicate. Our players are always free to feel how they want to feel and you just have to stay patient and hope that we can continue to work to some sort of agreement." -- Vrabel, on cornerback Christian Gonzalez expressing frustration on contract negotiations

5. Jacas' learning curve: What does it look like when a rookie is away from the team all spring and doesn't practice until the first weekend of training camp after signing his contract late? Outside linebacker Gabe Jacas, the second-round pick from Illinois, is learning the answer to that question.

Jacas played 81 snaps over three preseason games, was attacked with regularity on read-option plays, and sometimes looked to be out of position.

Outside linebackers coach Mike Smith, who lauded Jacas for his work ethic and referred to him as "meaner than a wet mule," added context to the dynamic.

"He didn't have the spring. We do a lot on defense and so a young player like that, you're just getting him lined up, know the defense and be in the right position," he said. "Then once he masters that, it's 'what are offenses doing to you? Where are the backfield sets? How is the tackle going to set you up?' There's so much more to it, and right now he's just getting lined up."

Smith believes Jacas will be a "special player" in time.

6. Ponder thought: Second-year outside linebacker Elijah Ponder, who spent training camp as a starter opposite Dre'Mont Jones with veteran Harold Landry III on the physically unable to perform list, has won over the confidence of the coaching staff.

"Elijah has playmaking ability. He's versatile and can play multiple positions," defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr said on Boston sports radio WEEI. "I think the experience and success he had [in 2025] fed into his confidence. In joint practices, he looked like he belonged. He's going to be a big piece for the defense."

7. Hall visit: With the Patriots' final preseason game on the road against the Browns, Vrabel had the team visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio as part of the day-before-game itinerary. It provided an opportunity for Patriots legend and HOFer Andre Tippett to be the tour guide.

"Having Tip be there to speak about the fraternity and his career -- he's a great Patriot. We were glad to be able to honor him in front of our football team," Vrabel said.

8. Grant's chance: Vrabel explained why he had quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant call the plays in Thursday's preseason finale.

"Ashton is a very, very good young football coach. I try to look for places to give other coaches opportunities and this was a good time," he said of Grant, 30, who had turned down an opportunity to interview for the Raiders' offensive coordinator job in the offseason to return to New England for a second year.

9. Did You Know, Part I: Wide receiver Efton Chism III and defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. were the only players on the roster to be selected as a game captain twice during the 2026 preseason.

10. Did You Know, Part II: The Patriots will open their season in primetime for the 12th time and for the first time since the 2019 season. Of those games, four were on "Monday Night Football," four on "Thursday Night Football" and three on "Sunday Night Football."

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