The 2026 NFL preseason is a good opportunity for teams to evaluate players and get them ready for the start of the regular season. That hasn’t been the case for the New England Patriots, as Mike Vrabel has opted to protect Drake Maye and several of his key players because he believes the team lacks depth.
“I do not think we have a very deep team,” Vrabel said to the press, “so I think we have to make sure that we are preparing our football team and that we are doing everything that we can to keep our best players available.
“And if that means playing Thursday as part of preparation, then that is what we will do. I have not made that decision yet, but I would say that that is something that I am confident in with where we are set up currently.”
Returning to the Super Bowl is the goal for a team that doesn’t want to leave anything to chance. Vrabel prefers to rest his key players at this stage and unleash his full arsenal starting in Week 1, when the Patriots will face none other than the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch of SB LX.
Head Coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots runs toward the field.
Vrabel draws his conclusions
With the heavy hitters taking a back seat, a few depth pieces really raised their hand during this 2026 preseason. Backup QB Behren Morton made a strong case for the roster after putting up a solid performance against Philadelphia Eagles, finishing 12 of 18 for 134 yards and a touchdown to keep the offense moving.
On the ground, rookie Jam Miller capitalized on his reps, grinding out 48 rushing yards on 9 carries and punching in a goal-line score. On the defensive side, pass-rusher Gabe Jacas stood out by causing havoc in the backfield, logging 3 total tackles, a sack, and two quarterback hits. It was exactly the kind of relentless, physical depth play Mike Vrabel values as he finalizes his initial 53-man roster heading into the regular season.
Protecting Drake Maye
It’s clear that Drake Maye is one of the team’s biggest stars, and the Patriots’ thin QB room means they don’t want to risk his health during the preseason. Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton are behind him on the depth chart, ready to step in if needed.
New England’s final preseason game
The Patriots wrap up their 2026 preseason on Thursday, August 27, when they hit the road to face the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. As for how they’ve kicked off the summer, it’s been a mixed bag with some solid moments: they opened up at home with a 13-13 tie against the Indianapolis Colts, but bounced back nicely in Week 2 by edging out the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in a tight battle at Gillette Stadium.
