New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has confirmed that Jacoby Brissett will continue as the starting quarterback, despite a disappointing 24-3 defeat to the New York Jets. Mayo praised Brissett’s toughness and grit, particularly in light of the team’s ongoing protection issues. This decision comes after Mayo introduced rookie quarterback Drake Maye for some late-game action, allowing him to gain experience in the regular season.
Mayo’s confidence in Brissett was clear when he stated, “Jacoby is our quarterback until I say he is not the quarterback.” In the game, Brissett completed 12 of 18 passes for 98 yards but struggled under pressure, being sacked five times and hit 15 times. His overall performance this season stands at 42 completions for 368 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions, as the Patriots sit at 1-2.
Following the loss, Mayo emphasized that every player is competing for their position, indicating that discussions about the quarterback situation would involve the coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt expressed belief in Maye’s development as a backup, suggesting that he would benefit more from observing Brissett in action for now. Van Pelt highlighted the need to prepare Brissett for the upcoming game against San Francisco.
In his limited playing time, Maye completed 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards and rushed twice for 12 yards. Although he started with a good field position, the drive ended prematurely due to a sack. Mayo noted that Maye showed promise despite the challenging circumstances of coming off the bench, citing his athleticism and ability to make throws.
Looking ahead, Mayo revealed that Maye has been receiving 30% of the first-team practice reps, indicating a strategy that balances development with Brissett’s starting role. The head coach reaffirmed that the team must focus on supporting Brissett to improve their overall performance as they prepare for future matchups.
