While fans of the New England Patriots were excited for the team's preseason matchup with the Carolina Panthers on Thursday to see their third overall pick, Drake Maye, take the field and get extended game reps, they were left sorely disappointed.
Maye entered the game after Jacoby Brissett's first and only drive, and the rookie got just six plays (seven snaps with one being a false start) and only three of them were passes. His night was over after throwing for just 19 yards, allowing Bailey Zappe to take over and eventually Joe Milton III to play later in the second half.
The decision to play Maye so little was one that left many confused, but after the game, Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo provided a little insight into the quarterback usage, specifically speaking on the potential of having Maye play behind an inexperienced, backup offensive line group.
"That's always a consideration," Mayo said. "If he's in there, you want him in there with the starting offensive line. We gotta protect that guy. I'm not saying we don't gotta protect the other guys, but that absolutely did go into it."
Despite the limited reps for the rookie, Mayo isn't worried about seeing him enough in live action throughout training camp and the preseason.
"This is the first preseason game. We still have two left." Mayo said. "He'll have plenty of opportunities to throw against other teams, the two other teams, before the regular season.
According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, Maye's seven offensive snaps are the fewest by any of the top rookie quarterbacks in the preseason opener since 2021.
Top rookie QBs (since '21) and how many snaps they played in preseason opener:
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 9, 2024
Justin Fields: 33
Mac Jones: 33
Kenny Pickett: 32
Will Levis: 30
Trey Lance: 29
Anthony Richardson: 29
Zach Wilson: 22
Kyle Trask: 21
Trevor Lawrence: 15
C.J. Stroud: 12
Bryce Young: 11
Drake Maye: 7
Getting Brissett and Maye ready should be their main goal, and it didn't seem like the preseason opener indicated that. If they were really concerned with Maye's safety, they could've kept the starting offensive line out there for another drive.
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