Sep 19, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) runs with the ball against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Reports: Drake Maye era to begin Sunday for New England

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye will get his first NFL start Sunday for the New England Patriots against the visiting Houston Texans, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

After moving on from former first-round pick Mac Jones in the offseason, the Patriots selected Maye with the No. 3 overall pick in April’s NFL draft.

He replaces veteran Jacoby Brissett, who has led New England to a 1-4 start to the season.

Brissett, 31, has completed just 79 of his 135 pass attempts (58.5 percent) for 696 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, averaging only 139.2 yards per game.

The Patriots’ offense has mustered just 62 points, second-worst in the NFL.

Maye, 22, played briefly in the Patriots’ 24-3 loss at the New York Jets on Sept. 19. He was 4-of-8 passing for 22 yards and sacked twice for a loss of 13.

Maye, a North Carolina product, was one of six quarterbacks selected in the first round in the 2024 draft. Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears), Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) and Bo Nix (Denver Broncos) have taken hold of the starting positions with their teams.

J.J. McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings) suffered a season-ending knee injury in August. Michael Penix Jr. (Atlanta Falcons) has yet to appear in a game.

–Field Level Media

Sep 29, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) passes the football against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

Patriots sticking with Jacoby Brissett as starting QB

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said Monday that Jacob Brissett will remain the team’s starting quarterback.

Mayo said he is not considering a change to Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, after the Patriots’ third straight loss.

“Jacoby is 100 percent our starter,” Mayo said in his video conference with reporters. “He’s done a good job doing what we’ve asked. Are there a lot of plays he could do a better job? Absolutely. But I would never question his toughness, dependability and leadership style for this team. That’s what we need right now.”

The Patriots (1-3) host the Miami Dolphins in Week 5.

Brissett was 19-for-32 passing with 168 yards with a touchdown and a pick-six in the Patriots’ 30-13 loss at San Francisco on Sunday. For the season, Brissett is completing 60.4 percent of his passes for 536 yards, two TDs and the one interception.

Brissett has been sacked 15 times in four games.

“I think the hard part about it, all the fans, you in the media, they want to see the third-overall pick play. I understand the frustration from fans and [media]. What we’re doing is what we think is best. What I’m doing is what I think is best for the Patriots today and also in the future,” Mayo said on his WEEI sports radio show Monday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 19, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA;  New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) sacked by New York Jets defensive end Micheal Clemons (72)  and  defensive end Will McDonald IV (99)  in the 1st half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Jerod Mayo: Jacoby Brissett is Pats’ QB1 ‘until I say he’s not’

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett will remain the starter despite throwing for just 98 yards and taking five sacks in Thursday night’s 24-3 loss to the New York Jets, head coach Jerod Mayo said Friday.

“Jacoby is our quarterback until I say he’s not the quarterback,” Mayo said.

The veteran Brissett was pulled for rookie Drake Maye late in the final quarter Thursday with the road game out of hand. It was the NFL debut for Maye, who was taken by the Patriots with the third overall pick in April’s NFL draft.

Brissett was playing behind a makeshift offensive line and faced pressure throughout the game. He completed 12 of 18 passes and lost 46 yards on sacks.

Maye was 4-of-8 passing for 22 yards with two sacks for 13 yards.

The Patriots (1-2) have a nine-day break between games before they play the 49ers in San Francisco. They return home for games against AFC East-rival Miami Dolphins and the Houston Texans, followed by a neutral-site game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, and then the Jets again, this time in Foxborough, Mass.

–Field Level Media

Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (13) waits for the snap against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots pick QB Jacoby Brissett to start over Drake Maye

Jacoby Brissett is the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots.

Head coach Jerod Mayo said Thursday the organization was on the same page making the decision to go with the 31-year-old with 48 career starts over rookie No. 3 pick Drake Maye.

“We have decided, I have decided Jacoby Brissett will be our starting quarterback this season,” Mayo said Thursday. “As an organization we are 100 percent behind Jacoby. There is no, ‘You’ve got a guy right here, there’s a guy right there.’ We’re 100 percent behind Jacoby. I had an opportunity to talk to Drake separately and Jacoby together and organizationally we’re all on the same page.”

Maye was 21 of 34 for 192 yards and a touchdown in the preseason, when he totaled seven carries for 32 yards with one touchdown. Brissett was 5 of 14 for 36 yards, threw a red-zone interception and posted a QB rating of 14.6.

In discussing the potential move Wednesday, Mayo hinted that if Maye begins the season as Brissett’s backup on Sept. 8 at Cincinnati, nothing is set in stone and performance would be a factor moving forward.

“I would say one thing: I think it’s important to remember, what’s good for the team today may not be good for the team weeks down the line,” Mayo said.

–Field Level Media

Aug 25, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (14) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Washington Commanders during a preseason game at Commanders Field. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett suffers right shoulder injury

Jacoby Brissett, who has been locked in a battle for the New England Patriots’ starting quarterback job all preseason, injured his right shoulder in a preseason game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday evening.

The Patriots said that Brissett was questionable to return.

Brissett was injured just over 2 1/2 minutes into the first quarter when Commanders defensive end KJ Henry came in unblocked off the left edge and planted Brissett’s left shoulder into the turf on a sack.

The veteran signal-caller showed visible pain on the field in the aftermath of the hit, but he stayed in the game and completed a short pass on the following play before finishing his day with an incompletion one play later.

No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye, who is pushing for the starting role in his first NFL season, subbed in for Brissett on New England’s following drive.

Brissett, 31, joined the Patriots this offseason after spot duty with Washington in 2023. Prior to that, he saw action in 16 games (11 starts) for the Cleveland Browns in 2022 and 11 games (five starts) for the Miami Dolphins in 2021.

Brissett was in Indianapolis from 2017-20, starting 30 games for the Colts over that time period. His career began with the Patriots in 2016 after being selected in the third round of that year’s draft.

In 79 career games (48 starts), Brissett has thrown for 10,574 yards and 51 touchdowns to go along with 23 interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (14) walks onto the field during a timeout against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots’ Jacoby Brissett to start, Drake Maye to play preseason finale

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett will start the Patriots’ preseason finale against the Washington Commanders on Sunday before being replaced by rookie Drake Maye, New England first-year head coach Jerod Mayo announced.

Mayo also noted on Friday that quarterbacks Joe Milton III and Bailey Zappe will draw into the game as well.

“Jacoby is going to start the game off,” Mayo told reporters. “Drake will play as well. Joe will play as well. Now, you guys can sleep. Bailey will play. We do have some players dealing with small things that probably won’t play and get ready for the regular season — some of our proven players.”

Mayo has yet to announce which quarterback will start the Patriots’ season opener against the host Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 8.

Brissett, 31, is in his ninth NFL season and second go-round with the Patriots after stops in Indianapolis, Miami, Cleveland and Washington. He has appeared in 79 games and is 18-30 as a starter, completing 61.3 percent of his passes for 10,574 yards with 51 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.

Maye, who turns 22 next week, was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft in April. He was a two-year starter at North Carolina.

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jacoby Brissett (12) throws the ball during the second half against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Patriots bringing back QB Jacoby Brissett

Seeking a starting quarterback, the New England Patriots are bringing Jacoby Brissett back to the fold on a one-year contract, multiple media outlets reported Monday night.

Drafted by the Patriots in the third round in 2016, Brissett is slated to make $8 million, though the deal could be worth up to $12 million with incentives, per NFL Network.

The Patriots also needed depth under center, with only Bailey Zappe and Nathan Rourke under contract after the team traded former first-rounder Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Brissett, 31, started two games for New England as a rookie and was dealt to the Indianapolis Colts just before the 2017 season.

Over parts of eight seasons with the Patriots (2016), Colts (2017-20), Miami Dolphins (2021), Cleveland Browns (2022) and Washington Commanders (2023), Brissett has completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 10,574 yards and 51 touchdowns in 79 games (48 starts).

Last season with Washington, Brissett made three appearances in relief of starter Sam Howell and guided the offense to five touchdown drives in six full possessions. Brissett was 18-of-23 passing for 224 yards and three touchdowns in those appearances.

A hamstring injury denied Brissett the chance to start against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17, and he missed Week 18 as well.

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) drops back to pass during the first quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders QB Sam Howell to start vs. 49ers

The Washington Commanders will turn to Sam Howell to start Sunday’s game against the visiting San Francisco 49ers with fellow quarterback Jacoby Brissett ruled inactive due to a hamstring injury.

The Commanders called up Jake Fromm from the practice squad on Saturday to back up Howell. Brissett is listed on the official injury report as the emergency third quarterback.

Howell, 23, initially was benched in favor of Brissett earlier in the week after the latter replaced the former in each of the previous two games for the Commanders (4-11).

Including the 2022 season finale, Howell has started 16 consecutive games for the Commanders. The 2022 fifth-round pick ranks 11th in the NFL this season in passing yards (3,624) but has offset his 19 touchdown passes with a league-high 17 interceptions — including four pick-sixes. He has also been sacked a league-high 60 times.

Brissett, who started 11 games last season for Cleveland, has completed 18 of 23 passes for 224 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in three games this season.

The 31-year-old compiled an 18-30 record as a starter for the Browns (2022), Miami Dolphins (2021), Indianapolis Colts (2017-20) and New England Patriots (2016). He has thrown for 10,574 yards with 51 TDs and 23 interceptions.

Other inactives for the Commanders are cornerbacks Benjamin St-Juste and Kendall Fuller, defensive end Jalen Harris, offensive lineman Andrew Wylie, tight end Cole Turner and wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley.

For the 49ers, tight end Ross Dwelley, quarterback Brandon Allen, offensive lineman Jaylon Moore, defensive lineman Arik Armstead, safety Ji’Ayir Brown, wide receiver Jauan Jennings and linebacker Jalen Graham are inactive.

–Field Level Media

Aug 11, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) throws the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Sam Howell named Commanders starting QB

Washington Commanders second-year quarterback Sam Howell will be under center to start the season, coach Ron Rivera announced Friday.

“Sam’s our guy,” Rivera said. “I’m very confident and comfortable saying he’s our starter.”

The Commanders open the season at home against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 10.

Friday’s announcement wasn’t a surprising one, considering Howell has worked with the starters since the beginning of spring practices. Offseason acquisition Jacoby Brissett replaced Howell for a number of first-team snaps prior to the preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns last Friday.

Howell completed 9 of 12 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown in Washington’s 17-15 victory over Cleveland.

“This was about what Sam did,” Rivera said. “Jacoby has been a true pro and done everything asked, and he’s also helped mentor Sam. He’s a more than viable quarterback. But there were certain things Sam had to show us and everybody knew from my perspective it was Sam’s to lose and he did nothing to lose it.”

Howell, who turns 23 next month, was a fifth-round pick in the 2022 draft out of North Carolina.

His lone appearance last season was in the season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for a touchdown.

–Field Level Media