Training camp can be a fun time. But for most football fans, camp largely means reading updates from reporters and getting to see an occasional clip or two from the practice fields.
The summer really progresses when everybody can tune in and actually see what’s going on, and that happens with the kickoff of the first preseason game of the year.
For the Patriots, that will come Thursday night at Gillette Stadium, with the Colts visiting Foxboro.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel certianly let some air out of the excitement balloon when he said that Drake Maye would not be playing in this one, as Tuesday’s joint practice session served as the bulk of week’s workload for Maye and numerous other starters. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty to watch closely as the Patriots roster continues to take shape.
Here are six things to watch when this game begins.
Tommy Two Chains
Whether or not you like Tommy DeVito’s latest nickname, you’ll be seeing a decent amount of him in this game. With just three quarterbacks on the roster, and with Maye likely sporting sweats and sneakers, DeVito could be playing the whole first half.
The fourth-year QB hasn’t played in a regular-season game since Week 15 of the 2024 season, but as the primary backup, he’ll be one snap away from being thrust into action this season.
DeVito looked solid during Tuesday’s joint practice, hitting Mack Hollins for a long touchdown strike on the second unit’s first play in the final 11-on-11 session.
And though DeVito has been around the Patriots for a while, this will mark his preseason debut with the team, as he joined New England after being released by the Giants last year after the preseason concluded.
DeVito was ranked as the 28th-best backup quarterback by Sports Illustrated this offseason, which could also be described as the fifth-worst. While a random internet ranking may not mean much, you can bet that the 28-year-old will be trying to show the football world at large that he’s better than that.
Which WRs Are Active?
One of the most interesting story arcs of the summer has been the team’s depth chart at wide receiver. A.J. Brown is the obvious No. 1, and free-agent addition Romeo Doubs figures to be the No. 2. After that … there’s a ton of options.
DeMario Douglas could be the starter in the slot, but he was so rarely used last year that it remains unclear if he’ll have a bigger role this year. Mack Hollins was tremendously valuable for the offense last year. Efton Chism earned a spot on the roster and could be poised to actually contribute on offense. Many fans are hoping for a big step forward for last year’s third-round pick, Kyle Williams. And of course, there’s Kayshon Boutte, who seemingly wants to be traded so he can put together a big year of production and then land himself a big, fat contract.
The fascinating part that will play out on Thursday is simply noting how many — if any — of those players are actually active for the game. Will Boutte be trotted out in a showcase of sorts to entice teams to pay up in a trade to acquire him? Will Hollins be utilized as some sort of veteran presence on the outside? Is Chism still at a point where he has to take these preseason reps to continue his development? For that matter … does Williams have to prove he deserves a roster spot by showing out in a game setting?
Many questions. Some answers, sure to come early in this game.
Cornerback Depth — Or Lack Thereof (Question Mark)
Christian Gonzalez didn’t practice on Tuesday (it was on the news, if you missed that) and obviously won’t play in the game. Carlton Davis is still working his way back from an injury.
Without that top duo on the field in the joint practice session, the Patriots’ defensive backfield was … vulnerable. Daniel Jones, Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson found plentiful opportunities in the passing game, leading to some real questions about the cornerback depth on the New England roster.
Opportunities to make plays will be there for Patriots cornerbacks. So, who will step up?
Rookie Karon Prunty — a somewhat controversial pick in the fifth round — will take his first NFL game reps. Veteran Kindle Vildor continues to fight to carve out a role. (Did you know he was a full-time player on the Bears’ defense in 2021 and 2022, and played more than 60 percent of the Lions’ defensive snaps in 2023?) Undrafted rookie Chaning Canada will get plenty of run, as will last year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Kobee Minor.
The Patriots don’t need all of those corners to shine in the preseason, but with Davis and Gonzalez carrying some injury histories and with Gonzalez’s contract situation very much unresolved, they’re absolutely going to need one or two of these guys to prove that they’re ready for real game action come September.
EDGE Depth — Or Lack Thereof (Period)
There at least seems to be some chance that a member or two of the cornerback depth chart can surprise some folks this summer. At EDGE, though? Projecting such an ascent could require an uncomfortable level of optimism.
Harold Landry is obviously not in the picture at all right now, which puts all of the pass-rushing needs on the shoulders of Dre’Mont Jones, rookie Gabe Jacas, and second-year player Elijah Ponder. That alone is asking a lot from that group.
With that in mind, it’s worth wondering if someone — anyone — can rise from lower on the depth chart to help the pass-rushing cause.
Bradyn Swinson had a lot of believers after the Patriots purportedly stole him in the fifth round of last year’s draft, but he was cut at the end of camp and brought back midseason, playing 27 defensive snaps and 22 special teams snaps in three games. Now 24 years old, is he now more capable of playing at the NFL level?
Seventh-round pick Quintayvious Hutchins and free-agent addition Jesse Luketa figure to get some opportunities in this one, as well.
Optimism levels may be low, but these games exist for unknowns to emerge.
The New Turf Field!
Forget about those football players for a minute and feast your eyes on that spanking new artificial turf field! Wowee. Check that thing out. It’s not often you get to see a whole field that was installed mere days before an NFL game is being played on it, so make sure you save your ticket stubs if you’re attending this one.
An Electric Rookie Moment
To be frank, preseason games as a whole can be a bit tiresome. They really ought to shorten them to four quarters of 10 minutes apiece. A full 60 — with penalties, challenges, TV timeouts, etc. — is just a bit much.
Still, some truly electric moments can be born in these preseason games. Last year, TreVeyon Henderson took the opening kick to the house for a touchdown, just moments after Tom Brady’s statue was unveiled. Then Efton Chism caught six passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. Who could forget Danny Etling’s 86-yard touchdown run vs. the Giants in 2018? Julian Edelman famously created the Wally Pipp moment between Bill Belichick and Wes Welker way back in 2009 with an electric punt return against the Eagles, too.
There’s no guarantee that one of these moments will take place, but there will be opportunities. Whether it’s Gabe Jacas ripping past a backup tackle to take down a quarterback, or Caleb Lomu getting his first NFL pancake, Eli Raridon finding the end zone for the first time or any of the undrafted rookies making a name for themselves, fans in attendance and watching at home will keep their eyes peeled in hopes of catching a glimpse of the next Patriots star.
Extra Point: The Kicks
The number six just feels incomplete in football, so throw the guys who kick into this mix.
Andy Borregales proved to be a very reliable kicker as a rookie (he booted a 51-yarder in his second preseason game, by the way), but, well, kickers are kickers. They always have to prove themselves. So any and all field goals will be noteworthy.
And don’t sleep on the punting unit, from long snapper Julian Ashby and new long snapper Niko Lalos, to punter Bryce Baringer. In his third year last season, Baringer was in the middle of the pack or worse in most punting statistics (17th in gross punt average, 20th in net, tied for 21st in punts inside the 20). With some absolute boomers on his resume — including a 79-yarder as a rookie, the Patriots could use some more consistent punting from Baringer. And with preseason games often featuring offenses full of third and fourth-stringers looking a bit out of sorts, expect him to get plenty of chances to show what his 2026 leg looks like on Thursday night.
