After a long offseason filled with change, the New England Patriots are set to take the field for the first time under head coach Jerod Mayo for their preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night.
Mayo stated earlier this week that he expects all healthy members of the roster to participate in this first game, but just how much they'll all play is totally up in the air. We may see starters go just a drive or two, or they could end up playing a full half or more.
As we prepare for this matchup, let's take a look at a few Patriots that we should all have our eyes on throughout the four quarters.
QB Jacoby Brissett
Brissett will be the team's starting quarterback in this one and will likely hold that same title in the regular season. This will be the first opportunity to see him lead the Patriots offense against a defense that isn't their own since his rookie season in 2016. His performance should at least be an indication of how comfortable he is in the system.
QB Drake Maye
Maye was New England's first-round pick in this year's draft, and he's fighting for a chance to earn more opportunities in practice. Everyone knows he'll eventually take over under center, but it's just a matter of when. If he looks great in the game, that could put him in position to have a true competition with Brissett throughout the rest of the preseason.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
Smith-Schuster battled injuries throughout the 2023 season, and he returned to the facility this year looking much better. However, he hasn't shown much in training camp that warrants him earning a roster spot in 2024 other than the dead-cap hit the team would have to take if they cut him. If he can't perform against backups and third-string cornerbacks, it will be a clear indication that New England should move on.
OT Caedan Wallace
Wallace was taken in the third round of this year's draft out of Penn State with the expectation that he'd compete for the starting left tackle job despite spending his collegiate career on the right side. He's flipped back and forth throughout camp, so it will be interesting to see where he works in the game and obviously how he handles the challenges of protecting a quarterback and providing push and holes for the running backs.
LB Matthew Judon
Judon is not happy with his contract situation. He left practice early last week after having animated conversations with the head coach and the two highest-ranking front-office members on the field before missing the next day of practice completely. Earlier this week, Judon left another practice early and returned without pads on. Judon has said he'll play the games, but will Mayo let him, and if so, how much?
CB Christian Gonzalez
Gonzalez was off to a stellar beginning to his rookie season, earning Defensive Rookie of the Month honors in September. However, an injury forced him to miss the rest of the year. While he's returning from the injury and seemingly giving up more catches than the team would probably like to see in camp, this will be a chance to see if his play improves in a game setting.
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