The Patriots’ quarterback competition took an surprising flip in Sunday’s preseason finale.
Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett began Sunday’s preseason finale towards the Commanders however was shortly hooked after taking a tough sack in his solely drive.
He was later introduced as questionable to return with a proper shoulder harm after already being changed by rookie Drake Maye.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has stated all summer season that there’s a competition between Maye and Brissett, however the rookie has but to take a first-team snap in apply.
Brissett went 2-of-4 for 19 yards within the Patriots’ opening collection. He seemed uncomfortable after touchdown on his shoulder when the Patriots’ safety fell aside on a first-down sack on the sixth play of the drive.
Maye seemed wonderful in his first collection Sunday, main the Patriots on a scoring drive and going 5-of-6 for 71 yards with a passing landing to working again Kevin Harris.
NBC’s “Sunday Night time Soccer” broadcast appeared to point that Mayo advised them the competitors was ongoing heading into Sunday’s preseason finale towards the Commanders.
“I’d say Drake took the ball down the sphere. You are taking away a few of these dangerous snaps, and it in all probability appears so much higher. Jacoby went on the market the primary collection, additionally made a conversion. We’ll see the way it performs out,” Mayo stated on the “Sunday Night time Soccer” broadcast when requested concerning the quarterback competitors.
Brissett threw incomplete to working again Antonio Gibson to begin the collection earlier than Gibson picked up 5 yards on a handoff. The Commanders blitzed Brissett on third-and-5, and the veteran quarterback hung again and accomplished a go to an uncovered Gibson that went for 13 yards and a primary down.
Gibson then ran for five yards and seven yards on his subsequent two carries behind adept blocking.
On first-and-10, left guard Sidy Sow pulled and bumped into proper guard Layden Robinson, who was pushed again by the frenzy, earlier than he might block Commanders go rusher Okay.J. Henry. Henry sacked Brissett, who got here up favoring his proper shoulder.
Brissett stayed within the sport and accomplished a 6-yard go to tight finish Jaheim Bell. On third-and-4, Brissett delivered an correct downfield go to large receiver Okay.J. Osborn who solely put up one hand and dropped the deep try.
The Patriots punted, and Drake Maye took over on the following offensive collection, when the rookie instantly led his offense on a scoring drive, beginning out 5-of-6 for 71 yards and a landing with three carries for 17 yards.
Mayo stated earlier than the sport that Brissett would solely play one or two collection, so it was troublesome to inform if he was pulled as a part of a plan, out of precautionary measures or due to any harm.
Maye’s finest go was a 29-yard downfield strike to fellow rookie Ja’Lynn Polk. On the landing, Maye accomplished a brief go to working again Kevin Harris on the sideline. Harris confirmed spectacular stability and the flexibility to choose up yards after catch by working the remainder of the way in which on the 18-yard rating.
Maye confirmed poise after taking two dangerous snaps from beginning heart Nick Leverett.
Maye was 3-of-3 for 12 yards on his second drive, however two performs went for unfavorable yards, and two offensive linemen had been flagged earlier than the Patriots had been compelled to punt. He went 0-for-2 in his third drive, a three-and-out, and 1-of-3 for six yards in his fourth drive. He completed the half 13-of-20 for 125 yards with the landing, however he had one other landing worn out on his fifth drive with a penalty on left sort out Chukwuma Okorafor.
The Patriots’ offensive line was known as for eight penalties within the crew’s first 5 offensive drives.
Maye started to make the quarterback competitors fascinating beginning Aug. 13 throughout a joint apply towards the Eagles. He’s outplayed Brissett since that session.
“I feel early on he was making an attempt to defer and simply be a very good teammate,” Mayo stated on The Sports activities Hub about Maye early in coaching camp. “Now, he’s competing to be the beginning quarterback; he’s actually sort of ramped up his preparation and manufacturing on the sphere.”
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