The Patriots-Jaguars matchup at Gillette Stadium presents several immediate storylines to monitor as New England looks to climb above .500 in Week 3. This Patriots-Jaguars preview pulls together five things to watch, grounded in Khari A. Thompson’s Boston.com game primer: the health and comfort of Drake Maye, how Jacksonville plans to use Travis Hunter, Rhamondre Stevenson‘s push toward a franchise milestone, New England’s turnover momentum, and late-week injury uncertainty (Boston.com — Khari A. Thompson).
Five things at a glance — Patriots vs. Jaguars (Week 3)
1) Drake Maye and New England’s comfort under center
Drake Maye remains the focal point of New England’s offense after a home opener that raised questions about consistency. Boston.com’s preview notes Maye has “not looked fully comfortable” behind a retooled offensive line and has shown a tendency to throw off his back foot — an observation that can affect timing and decision-making.
The Patriots still managed a win over Pittsburgh despite not getting a touchdown from Maye. He’s produced some explosive plays but protection and pocket comfort will be keys on Sunday.
Takeaway: Watch Maye’s footwork and quick-release plays; improved pocket comfort would help the offense immediately.
2) How Jacksonville might use Travis Hunter
Travis Hunter has been a limited offensive factor so far, playing roughly 10 offensive snaps this season — about nine percent of Jacksonville’s offensive snaps, per the Boston.com report. His size and athleticism create matchup problems when he’s on the field.
Jaguars coordinator Liam Coen said he’s looking for ways to get Hunter involved; Hunter’s 2025 receiving totals (28 catches for 288 yards and a touchdown) show upside when targeted. New England will prepare for packages that use Hunter as a receiver or movement piece.
Takeaway: Track Hunter’s offensive snap count early — an uptick changes coverage assignments for Patriots defensive backs.
3) Stevenson chasing a Patriots rushing milestone
Rhamondre Stevenson sits at 3,763 career rushing yards with New England and needs 37 more yards to pass Curtis Martin (3,799) for fourth on the franchise’s all-time list. Stevenson had a mixed Week 1: he lost a first-quarter fumble but later produced a 24-yard run.
How the Patriots manage his touches will determine whether Stevenson reaches the milestone Sunday. Game script and ball-control needs will influence his opportunities.
Takeaway: Stevenson reaching the mark would be an early storyline; watch his carry total for signals about trust and game flow.
4) Patriots defense: turnover momentum and key playmakers
New England’s defense created game-changing plays in Week 1. Boston.com’s piece highlights forced turnovers by Gabe Jacas and Christian Barmore, and a defensive touchdown by Elijah Ponder. Those plays helped offset offensive inconsistency and provided better field position.
Maintaining takeaway production — pressure, forced fumbles, interceptions or defensive scores — remains a core path to another win, especially against a Jaguars offense that can strike in chunks.
Takeaway: Continued turnover creation keeps New England competitive even if the offense stalls.
5) Injuries and availability that could shift matchups
Week 3 prep includes important availability questions. Boston.com reports that Mike Onwenu suffered a broken ankle and is out, and that safety Craig Woodson missed both practices with a shoulder issue and remained limited in the late-week report. The preview lists Jaylen Reed and Mike Brown as potential options at safety if Woodson can’t play. The piece also notes Jakobi Meyers was limited at practice with a thumb issue.
All injury notes carry uncertainty; teams finalize designations at Friday practice and on the gameday injury report, so monitor updates for final availability.
Takeaway: Friday and gameday confirmations for Onwenu and Woodson will shape pass-rush matchups and secondary alignments.
What it means for the roster (brief)
Onwenu’s absence creates immediate line-plan adjustments and may require rotation or scheme tweaks up front; the team will rely on backups and coaching to preserve protection calls. In the secondary, Woodson’s absence would increase snaps for other safeties — Boston.com identifies Jaylen Reed and Mike Brown as potential contributors — but exact roles depend on final confirmations. All potential depth-chart shifts remain tentative until the official gameday active list is posted.
What to watch on gameday
- Pre-game confirmations of Mike Onwenu and Craig Woodson on the final injury report.
- Snap counts for Travis Hunter — any uptick signals schematic changes.
- Rhamondre Stevenson‘s carry total as he seeks the milestone.
- Sacks/pressure numbers on Drake Maye to gauge pocket comfort.
Source: This preview is grounded in Khari A. Thompson’s Boston.com piece, “5 things to watch during Patriots-Jaguars,” published Sept. 24, 2026. Read the original here: Boston.com — Khari A. Thompson. Be civil. Be kind.
PatriotsReport will update with gameday availability and in-game notes as the Week 3 injury report and active lists are finalized.
