New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and the Indianapolis Colts squared off in an intense joint practice at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. The two AFC playoff contenders traded explosive downfield plays before the session concluded with competitive two-minute drills ahead of their preseason opener.
Drake Maye Sparkles Before Late Interception
Drake Maye put together an encouraging performance during Tuesday’s joint session, orchestrating multiple explosive plays against the Indianapolis defense. According to NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry, as cited by Boston.com, the third-year quarterback completed 15 of 23 pass attempts during 11-on-11 drills and went 4-for-6 in 7-on-7 red zone work. Maye connected on several vintage downfield throws, including a go-ball to wide receiver Romeo Doubs down the left sideline and a deep pass into the cover-two hole to star wide receiver A.J. Brown.
The highlight of Maye’s afternoon came during a red-zone sequence where he tossed three touchdowns in four plays.
However, Maye’s strong outing ended with a miscue during the final two-minute drill. While targeting wide receiver DeMario Douglas in the end zone with roughly 25 seconds remaining and no timeouts, Maye underthrew a second-down pass that was intercepted by Colts safety Camryn Bynum, as reported by Boston.com.
“I believe maybe it had been second down. I got to protect the football. We were second and maybe 13. We had a false start, and you’ve got 25 seconds left. We got no timeouts trying to score a touchdown. So I gave a shot to the end zone and got to give our guys a chance.”
Drake Maye, Patriots quarterback, via Boston.com
Tommy DeVito and Tight Ends Lead Backup Surge
While Maye directed the starting unit, backup quarterback Tommy DeVito seized the spotlight with a standout performance that earned praise from Patspulpit. DeVito engineered multiple scoring drives, highlighted by a deep ball to Kyle Williams, who fought through double coverage and contact from Colts defensive backs to secure a touchdown.
“It’s a different world. It’s one thing to be in the classroom and be in it and learn and everything, but it’s another thing to get reps. Because last year, I didn’t get any reps in the offense; my first rep was during OTAs. So, to be able to actually take everything from the classroom and bring it to the field — physically learn mistakes — that’s personally how I learn my best. So, it’s good for me.”
Photo: CBS News
Tommy DeVito, Patriots quarterback, via Patspulpit
Tight ends Hunter Henry and Eli Raridon also anchored the passing attack across both quarterback rotations. Patspulpit notes that Maye targeted Henry on a wheel route and a seam pattern, while Raridon hauled in a sizable gain on a play-action crossing route. DeVito subsequently connected with both tight ends for red-zone touchdowns, including a tight-window bullet to Raridon in the back of the end zone.
Colts Offense Relies on Tyler Warren Amid Defensive Absences
On the opposing sideline, Indianapolis quarterback Daniel Jones faced pressure and tight coverage from the New England defense, particularly with Patriots star cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III watching from the sidelines, according to Yahoo Sports.
Drake Maye & the Patriots Compete in Joint Practice vs. the Indianapolis Colts at 2026 Training Camp
With wide receivers struggling to separate against New England’s secondary, Jones repeatedly leaned on second-year tight end Tyler Warren. Yahoo Sports described Warren as a physical force who gave the Patriots secondary trouble throughout the two-hour workout.
Meanwhile, New England’s run defense faced distinct challenges against a Colts ground game spearheaded by running back Jonathan Taylor. Patspulpit reported that Taylor dictated the flow on the ground from start to finish, though Patriots edge defender Dre’Mont Jones managed a notable tackle for loss.
Fan Expectations and Preseason Schedule at Gillette Stadium
Thousands of supporters filled the stands in Foxborough on Tuesday carrying heightened expectations for the franchise following last season’s Super Bowl appearance, as detailed by CBS News. Fans interviewed at the practice expressed optimism regarding the offseason addition of A.J. Brown and the maturation of Drake Maye.
Photo: New England Patriots
“We have a better team than last year, and last year we made it to the Super Bowl with that team. So, I said the sky’s the limit. Especially with A.J. Brown, we upgraded on receivers, and you know Drake Maye’s coming after all this with playoff experience. So, you know I think they got a good shot of making the Super Bowl again this year.”
JP Bonilla, Patriots fan, via CBS News
Tuesday’s joint workout served as the final major practice before the two teams meet on the field for real. The New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts are scheduled to play their preseason opener at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, August 13, 2026, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.
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Daniel Richardson is the Editor-in-Chief of Archysport, where he leads the editorial team and oversees all published content across nine sport verticals. With over 15 years in sports journalism, Daniel has reported from the FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games, NFL Super Bowls, NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tennis tournaments. He previously served as Senior Sports Editor at Reuters and holds a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University. Recognized by the Sports Journalists' Association for excellence in reporting, Daniel is a member of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). His editorial philosophy centers on accuracy, depth, and fair coverage — ensuring every story published on Archysport meets the highest standards of sports journalism.
