A.J. Brown wasted no time trying to give Patriots fans what they wanted on Thursday night.
Drake Maye was never supposed to play in New England’s first preseason game against the Colts, but that didn’t stop the quarterback from dressing for the occasion and walking out with the other quarterbacks for the first time in 2026. Then, in a moment that caught plenty of attention at Gillette Stadium, Brown made a playful push to get Maye onto the field for a fourth-quarter drive.
The Patriots later posted the scene on social media Friday. In the clip, Brown can be seen clapping along to a “We Want Drake Maye” chant before physically dragging the third-year signal caller toward the field. The whole thing ended the way it looked like it might: with laughter from both players afterward.
For now, Brown and Maye’s real debut together is set for Sept. 9, but there’s at least a chance fans see Brown before then. Preseason Week 3 is usually the window when starters get work, and Brown could get on the field even earlier than that.
That possibility has a lot to do with New England’s second preseason opponent: Brown’s former team, the Philadelphia Eagles. With joint practice coming this week, Brown should have plenty of juice for that matchup, and he may want a drive or two against Philadelphia as well.
Still, Thursday night gave Patriots fans their first look at Brown in game-day gear, and the pairing already looks promising. He and Maye have reportedly been lighting it up in practice, and the fit is obvious on paper: Maye loves pushing the ball deep, and Brown is exactly the kind of receiver who can turn that into big plays.
So the focus now shifts to Week 1, when that practice chemistry finally has a chance to matter for real.
In Other News...
Patriots Suddenly Have A Real RB Roster Battle To Watch
Hassan Haskins has turned a late opportunity into a real training camp storyline for the Patriots, working his way into the mix for a backup running back job after arriving as a free agent. He has already taken part in the preseason opener and has been practicing with the team, giving New England a closer look at a player who has spent time with the Titans and Chargers and is trying to show he can be more than just emergency depth.
What makes Haskins interesting is that he is not only trying to earn a place in the backfield, but also helping out on special teams, which often matters just as much when rosters get trimmed. For a Patriots team sorting through the bottom of the running back chart, that kind of versatility can keep a player in the conversation a little longer, even if the final decision is still very much in flux. [Read more 🡒]
Drake Maye Just Turned Patriots Roster Cuts Into A Real Debate
The Patriots have built a wide receiver room that suddenly looks hard to trim, with A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs penciled in as the top starters and Kayshon Boutte still expected to matter even as trade rumors continue to swirl around him. As the 2026 season approaches, the usual roster math is getting a lot trickier, because there are more viable options than there are obvious cuts.
Drake Maye has only added to the debate by backing the current group and floating the idea that New England could carry seven receivers, which would be unusual. It is the kind of comment that says as much about his leadership as it does about the roster, since he seems focused on keeping the room together and preserving a positive atmosphere while the team sorts out a decision that will not be easy. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Offensive Line Battle Just Took Another Early Turn
The Patriots offensive line picture kept shifting this week, and it did so in a way that underscored how quickly the bottom of the roster can change in August. In the wake of the preseason opener against the Colts, the teams roster churn included a series of moves that came alongside the usual run of press conference notes, game takeaways and early projections about who might stick and who might be on the outside looking in.
One of the more notable developments was the addition of two first-year offensive linemen, a reminder that New England is still sorting through depth and competition up front. The same set of transactions also cleared room elsewhere on the roster, with a long snapper let go and a guard moved to injured reserve, leaving the Patriots with even more questions to answer as the preseason keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]