New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo gave a brief update on where he sees the quarterback situation following the team’s final preseason game. Jacoby Brissett suffered a minor shoulder injury against the Washington Commanders on Sunday night, but Mayo doesn’t think it will impede his abilities in Week 1.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye rose up the depth chart this offseason to earn the QB2 job for training camp. He doesn’t appear to have impressed the coaching staff any further since practices started in July.
Jerod Mayo on where he sees Drake Maye
Per NFL Media, Mayo would not confirm that the Patriots would make Maye the starter if Brissett missed Week 1 due to injury. However, Mayo said Maye is the team’s second-best quarterback.
“I would like to sit here and say 100 percent. He’s our second-best quarterback on our roster right now,” Mayo said.
Mayo’s answers on Sunday night aren’t a strong endorsement for the No. 3 pick to be a starter in the league, at least to begin the season.
The Patriots could intentionally plan to sit Maye this season, as many scouts and analysts felt would be best for the quarterback who only started two seasons in college at North Carolina. (Maye has thrown some great passes, but he’s also had issues taking snaps and accuracy in the preseason.) If they do, the Patriots would have to decide to start rookie Joe Milton or Bailey Zappe if Brissett is injured.
Joe Milton and Bailey Zappe aren’t starting options
Milton has shown off his strong arm and athletic abilities but struggled with efficiency, completing just 36.7% of his passes in the preseason. Zappe will likely be cut this week. Frankly, the Patriots don’t have much of a choice but to play Maye if something happens to Brissett this season if they really want to put their most competitive players on the field, as Mayo said he plans to do.
Maye wants to help the New England Patriots win in Week 1
Maye thinks he’s ready to pay as soon as the Patriots call his number.
“Yeah, I think I would feel ready,” Maye said. “I think I’m ready for whatever this football team asks of me and ready to get out there and try to help us beat the Bengals Week 1.”
Maye finished 21/34 passing for 192 yards and one touchdown in the preseason. One can’t blame Mayo for wanting to wait before putting Maye on the field this season. The Patriots offense doesn’t have a lot of weapons, and there’s no reason to rush Maye into a situation that could crush his confidence for future seasons.
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