Quarterbacks Drake Maye and Daniel Jones will watch from the sideline when the New England Patriots face the Indianapolis Colts in their upcoming preseason opener, according to statements from both team head coaches.
Coaches Confirm Precautionary Sidelining for Preseason Opener
Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen stated clearly that his veteran quarterback will not risk injury during the exhibition slate. According to Fox Sports, Steichen noted regarding Jones’ status, “It’s pretty obvious I don’t want to take any chances out there with Daniel in the preseason.” Jones enters the 2025 campaign aiming to build on a promising start prior to suffering a torn Achilles tendon last December.
Across the field, New England head coach Mike Vrabel indicated that Maye is expected to get the night off for the Thursday matchup in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Maye is coming off a stellar rookie season that included a second-place finish in MVP voting. While Vrabel left a sliver of room for adjustments, he noted that his mindset stands fixed on resting the star passer. “That’s where my mindset is right now, standing here today,” Vrabel told reporters, as reported by Fox Sports. “It’s important that we get the work in and get things accomplished that we are looking to get accomplished. That can always change, but I wouldn’t anticipate that happening right now.”
Quarterback Rotation Plans for Thursday Night
With both marquee starters sidelined, coaching staffs have outlined extensive playing time for their backups. Steichen announced that Anthony Richardson will start the first half for Indianapolis on Thursday, handing over the reins to Riley Leonard in the third quarter. That sequence will flip for the Colts’ next exhibition contest scheduled for August 22 at home against Atlanta. For New England, Tommy DeVito is expected to draw the start under center, followed by backup Behren Morton.
The extended look gives Richardson an essential platform to solidify the backup role he slipped into after losing the starting job to Jones last season. Richardson struggled through a 2024 campaign where he posted a 47.7% completion rate—the lowest among regular starters in the league.
Joint Practice Highlights and Ongoing Roster Battles
Though they will not suit up for Thursday’s game, both Maye and Jones logged heavy work during Tuesday’s joint practice sessions in Foxborough. Maye expressed satisfaction with how his supporting cast performed against an Indianapolis defense that featured star cornerback Sauce Gardner. “I think you just learn about who’s stepping up to the occasion,” Maye told reporters. “A lot of different guys made plays. A lot of guys in the red zone were making plays, and I think you just see time and time again of when we can use everybody, how hard it is on the defense.”
The Patriots offense missed facing top New England cornerback Christian Gonzalez during recent workouts, however. Patriots defensive lineman Milton Williams praised his teammate’s value, telling reporters, “He’s a hell of a player. When he’s not out there, we’ve got to step up and carry that weight for him.”
Sideline Tensions and Practice Disciplinary Notes
The intense competitive environment during joint practices occasionally boiled over into minor altercations. A kickoff drill concluded with a brief shoving match near the sideline involving Indianapolis defensive end Durell Nchami, who appeared to lock up with a Patriots player after the whistle. Coaching staffs quickly intervened, and Nchami was escorted off the field by a Colts assistant.
Earlier in the workouts, a touchdown pass from Jones to receiver Josh Downs sparked spirited verbal sparring between Downs and Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones. The exchange drew a practice taunting penalty from officials. Downs later downplayed the incident, explaining to reporters, “That’s my bad… friendly trash talk going on in practice. That’s what that was about. It was nothing major. We dapped it up after. It was all love.”
Both teams will wrap up their joint preparations ahead of Thursday’s kickoff in Foxborough.
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