“I wouldn’t anticipate seeing Drake Maye out there on Thursday, but that’s all subject to change,” Mike Vrabel said Tuesday, setting expectations that the Patriots plan to keep their starting quarterback off the field for the preseason opener. Drake Maye figures into New England’s immediate game plan as the club used a joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts to give starters work without exposing them to full-contact preseason snaps.
Drake Maye’s expected absence vs. the Colts
Vrabel’s comment — “I wouldn’t anticipate seeing Drake out there on Thursday, but that’s all subject to change” — makes clear the current thinking at Patriots camp: preserve the starter while still getting the necessary preparation. The coach added, “That’s kind of where my mindset is right now, standing here today.”
That approach keeps the focus on controlled preparation in practice settings rather than risking a preseason game for the team’s presumed Week 1 starter. The choice is presented as an expectation by Vrabel and is not an official, unchangeable ruling.
What Vrabel actually said and context
Vrabel gave multiple, closely aligned lines that framed the decision as precautionary and flexible. He told reporters, “Really, it’s just important that we get the work in and get things accomplished that we’re looking to get accomplished. That can always change, but I wouldn’t anticipate that happening right now.”
The coach linked the preseason plan to the team’s larger preparation goals: “I think we always look at improvement. We talk about getting ready for the next season, we always look at improvement in the ways that we can improve individually and how we can improve as a team.”
Those remarks and practice details are reported by Khari A. Thompson for Boston.com and are described with the caveat that roster and playing-time choices are “subject to change.”
Practice incident: the Swinson collision and coach message
Practice on Tuesday ended earlier than planned after a collision between Bradyn Swinson and Drake Maye. Following the incident, Vrabel gathered the team and, according to players, delivered a clear instruction to protect the quarterback: “stay away from the quarterback.”
The stop to practice and the coach’s message reinforced why the staff might prefer to keep Maye out of a contact-heavy preseason game. Reports of the collision and the team response come via Boston.com’s coverage by Khari A. Thompson.
Joint practice purpose and what reps looked like
The Patriots used a joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts to simulate game action without committing starters to full-contact preseason minutes. Vrabel pointed to the value of those sessions, saying, “That’s really the only reason we do these joint practices.”
He added that joint practices let frontline players get work while reserving game reps for others: “It would be a lot of the frontline players and whoever is available. Some of the guys that maybe won’t get as much work today will get extensive work in the game on Thursday.”
In short, the club appears to be balancing live, competitive reps in practice against the incremental risk of actual preseason snaps.
How preseason reps likely shift among backups
With Drake Maye expected to sit, opportunities in Thursday’s preseason opener should shift to New England’s backups. Tommy DeVito is the most established reserve; other names mentioned in camp coverage include rookie Behren Morton, Ben Wooldridge and veterans like Joshua Dobbs. Those players could see extended game reps if Maye is held out.
Last year, Maye appeared in two preseason games, completing 7 of 12 passes for 58 yards and taking one sack, while other quarterbacks handled the bulk of preseason work. That pattern — starters getting work in practice and backups getting game reps — appears likely again, pending any change in Maye’s status.
What to watch Thursday and next steps
Fans and beat reporters should focus on a few clear indicators: official game-day status updates released by the team, postgame comments from coaches about what was accomplished, and how many live snaps the backups received. Any official change to Maye’s status will be reported by the team; until then, Vrabel’s phrasing makes the plan an expectation that is “subject to change.”
Key items to watch Thursday:
- Official gameday active/inactive list from the Patriots and the Colts.
- Snap counts and drive-level performance for the quarterbacks who play.
- Any postgame or postpractice comments from Vrabel about why the final decision was made.
What happens if the plan changes?
If Maye is unexpectedly activated to play, expect a limited script designed to preserve him from high-risk plays while still testing protection, timing with starters, and situational reads. Vrabel repeatedly emphasized flexibility: “That can always change, but I wouldn’t anticipate that happening right now.”
That uncertainty underscores the conditional nature of preseason decisions: teams weigh preparation versus exposure, and coaches often adjust plans based on how players respond in practice.
Source and attribution
This report is based on reporting by Khari A. Thompson for Boston.com. See the original story for full context: Boston.com — Mike Vrabel: Drake Maye is not expected to play in preseason opener.
For additional context on Vrabel’s camp comments, see our earlier coverage: Mike Vrabel Press Conference 6 9.
