Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is still “a ways away” from starting, according to a pregame NFL Network report Sunday.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport delivered the news during a television segment with an on-screen graphic that read “Drake Maye still weeks away from starting for Patriots.”
“My understanding is (Maye’s) still a ways away from being on the field,” Rapoport said. “The Patriots have not started the ramp-up process. … Looks to me, Rich (Eisen), like it is Jacoby Brissett going forward.”
To expedite his development behind the scenes, the Patriots have handed Maye an unusually high number of starting reps in practice. Unlike most No. 2 quarterbacks, who typically take 5% of reps with the starting offense, Maye is seeing 30% every practice. He’s also led the scout-team offense for stretches, simulating the next opposing quarterback on the Pats’ schedule as he goes head-to-head with their starting defense.
In the Patriots’ last game against the Jets, Maye made his NFL debut in mop-up duty. He went 4-of-8 for 22 yards and took two sacks, the last of which ended the game and his only drive that night.
