The New England Patriots closed their preseason with an underwhelming effort, losing 37-13 to the Cleveland Browns to finish their exhibition schedule with a perfectly-balanced 1-1-1 record. Besides the Patriots’ backups struggling, the biggest story coming out of Thursday’s game was Drake Maye and the rest of the team’s starters not taking the field.
This means that Maye and company played a grand total of zero preseason snaps this summer. They did hold three joint practices with the Colts and Eagles,
but the approach as a whole still differs from the first year under head coach Mike Vrabel in 2025.
“I just think that it’s best for us right now to try to start next week with the guys that we have,” Vrabel explained his decision to hold the starters out. “I know that’s a difficult decision. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer. We have to just continue to try to prepare the football team the best that we can. We just wanted to try to get to the regular season with the guys that we had.”
Here is our full snap count report from the Patriots’ preseason finale.
Offense
Total snaps: 59 | Time on the field: 23:56 | *denotes starter
C Jacob Rizy* (59; 100%), QB Behren Morton (50; 85%), RT/LT Dametrious Crownover (50; 85%), LG Mehki Butler* (47; 80%), RG Joseph Michalski* (47; 80%), WR Nick DeGennaro (45; 76%), WR Kyle Dixon (40; 68%), LT James Hudson III* (37; 63%), WR Tejhaun Palmer (32; 54%), TE Jack Westover (31; 53%), RB Hassan Haskins (26; 44%), WR Cameron Dorner (26; 44%), TE C.J. Dippre* (26; 44%), RB JaMycal Hasty (25; 42%), RT Jack Conley (22; 37%), TE/FB Tanner Arkin* (18; 31%), RG JonDarius Morgan (12; 20%), LG Darrian Dalcourt (12; 20%), QB Tommy DeVito* (9; 15%), WR Kyle Williams* (9; 15%), WR Efton Chism III* (9; 15%), RT Caleb Lomu* (9; 15%), RB Lan Larison* (8; 14%)
The Patriots again used both of their backup quarterbacks versus the Browns, but gave them vastly different reps: Tommy DeVito was on the field for the first two series, with Behren Morton taking over late in the first quarter and closing out the game. What’s more interesting than that split — because there is no real competition between the two QBs — is who played alongside them, especially at one position.
At running back, Lan Larison and Hassan Haskins were the first men up. Larison left the game alongside DeVito after two series, while Haskins remained in the contest for longer to finish with a team-leading 11 carries for 38 yards. Of course, one competitor for the RB3 spot did not take the field at all: Jam Miller, who was limited during the final practice of training camp two days prior.
Elsewhere, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism played their usual preseason roles as the top two wide receivers before leaving the field for the depth options (who are projected to compete for the practice squad). At tight end, Tanner Arkin and C.J. Dippre got the start, with Jack Westover also heavily involved. Interestingly enough, Arkin line up at fullback for six of his 18 total snaps (compared to one for Dippre and zero for 2025 featured FB Westover).
Along the offensive line, James Hudson ended up starting at left tackle in place of the injured Marcus Bryant; Dametrious Crownover took over for Caleb Lomu early at right tackle. In the meantime, none of the interior linemen truly distinguished themselves — which could be bad news with roster cuts looming and projected top backup Greg Van Roten held out.
Defense
Total snaps: 62 | Time on the field: 33:28 | *denotes starter
S John Saunders Jr.* (62; 100%), CB Karon Prunty* (45; 73%), LB Namdi Obiazor* (39; 63%), CB Charles Woods* (39; 63%), DT Eric Gregory* (35; 56%), S Mike Brown (32; 52%), LB Riley Wilson (31; 50%), LB Chad Muma (30; 48%), ED Jesse Luketa* (28; 45%), CB Channing Canada (28; 45%), DT Isaiah Iton (27; 44%), ED Amari Gainer (27; 44%), ED Quintayvious Hutchins (26; 42%), ED Bradyn Swinson (24; 39%), LB K.J. Britt* (24; 39%), CB Kindle Vildor* (22; 35%), DT Joshua Farmer* (20; 32%), DT Casey Rogers (20; 32%), CB Marcellas Dial Jr. (20; 32%), ED Gabe Jacas* (19; 31%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (17; 27%), CB Kobee Minor (16; 26%), S Dell Pettus* (15; 24%), S Peter Manuma (15; 24%), CB Brandon Crossley (12; 19%), DT Leonard Taylor III (9; 15%)
The Patriots defense had its fair share of issues on Thursday, and it would not be a surprise if only a handful of the players used will actually make it onto the 53-man roster. At the moment, there are question marks all over the unit.
Up front, Joshua Farmer and Eric Gregory served as the starters but played relatively deep into the game; Gregory in particular saw a high number of reps. For comparison, Leonard Taylor — another fringe roster candidate — was on the field for only nine of them. A positive sign or an ominous one?
Among the linebackers, Namdi Obiazor stood out both in terms of snap volume and performance. Arguably New England’s best defender, he registered a team-leading 11 tackles (plus another on special teams) and showed a level of intensity the rest of the unit was sorely lacking. Will that be enough for a late roster push? Possibly, because veterans Chad Muma and K.J. Britt, who both also played a high number of snaps, have not been able to stake their claim for the LB3 spot behind Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss.
The biggest problem child on Thursday, however, was cornerback. Charles Woods and Kindle Vildor entered the game as the projected third and fourth options on the roster, but both had a hard time going against wide receivers likely to be let go by Sunday’s deadline. In fact, one of those — Ben Patterson, who caught two passes for 71 yards — has already been let go. As for Woods, Vildor and Karon Prunty, they remain on the roster for now, but it would not be a surprise to see at least one of them get the axe eventually.
Special teams
Total snaps: 28 | Time on the field: 2:36
CB Marcellas Dial Jr. (19; 68%), LB Riley Wilson (16; 57%), ED Quintayvious Hutchins (15; 54%), ED Bradyn Swinson (14; 50%), ED Jesse Luketa (14; 50%), LB Namdi Obiazor (14; 50%), S/PP Mike Brown (13; 46%), S/PP Peter Manuma (13; 46%), TE Jack Westover (12; 43%), RB/KR Hassan Haskins (11; 39%), TE C.J. Dippre (11; 39%), CB Karon Prunty (10; 36%), RB/KR JaMycal Hasty (9; 32%), WR Tejhaun Palmer (9; 32%), ED Amari Gainer (9; 32%), LB K.J. Britt (9; 32%), LB Chad Muma (7; 25%), CB Charles Woods (7; 25%), CB Channing Canada (7; 25%), S John Saunders Jr. (7; 25%), K Andy Borregales (7; 25%), P/H Matt Haack (7; 25%), LS Julian Ashby (7; 25%), DT Eric Gregory (6; 21%), DT Isaiah Iton (6; 21%), CB Kobee Minor (6; 21%), DT Leonard Taylor III (4; 14%), WR/KR/PR Nick DeGennaro (4; 14%), CB Kindle Vildor (4; 14%), WR Kyle Dixon (3; 11%), OT Dametrious Crownover (3; 11%), OL Jacob Rizy (3; 11%), OL JonDarius Morgan (3; 11%), OL Darrian Dalcourt (3; 11%), ED Gabe Jacas (3; 11%), OT James Hudson III (2; 7%), OL Mehki Butler (2; 7%), DT Casey Rogers (2; 7%), S Dell Pettus (2; 7%), RB Lan Larison (1; 4%), WR/KR Cameron Dorner (1; 4%), OT Caleb Lomu (1; 4%), OL Joseph Michalski (1; 4%), CB Brandon Crossley (1; 4%)
The Patriots employed a wide variety of kickoff returners on Thursday, with Hassan Haskins the first man up. Special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer likes to use a running back for the position under the new rules, and Haskins looks like he has a shot to earn that role — especially considering that his main competition, Lan Larison and wide receiver Kyle Williams, were not used versus the Browns.
The core four personnel, meanwhile, was five players deep. Marcellas Dial Jr, Riley Wilson, Quintayvious Hutchins, Namdi Obiazor and Bradyn Swinson appeared on all four return and coverage teams. Dial Jr. and Wilson appear to be roster longshots at this point in time, while the others are on the fringe and could benefit from their kicking game abilities in combination with the lack of depth at their respective spots.
Did not play
QB Drake Maye, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, RB TreVeyon Henderson, RB Jam Miller, FB Reggie Gilliam, WR A.J. Brown, WR Romeo Doubs, WR DeMario Douglas, WR Mack Hollins, TE Hunter Henry, TE Eli Raridon, LT Will Campbell, RT Morgan Moses, OT Marcus Bryant, OT Lorenz Metz, LG Alijah Vera-Tucker, C Jared Wilson, RG Mike Onwenu, OL Greg Van Roten, OL Ben Brown, DT Christian Barmore, DT Milton Williams, DT Cory Durden, ED Harold Landry III (PUP), ED Dre’Mont Jones, ED Elijah Ponder, ED Xavier Holmes, LB Robert Spillane, LB Christian Elliss, LB Khalil Jacobs, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Carlton Davis III, CB Marcus Jones, S Craig Woodson, S Kevin Byard, S Jaylen Reed, S Brenden Schooler (NFI), S Eric Butler, P Bryce Baringer
The Patriots held out a combined 38 players from their preseason finale, and most of them will be on the roster come Sunday night. The only unclear projections out of that group are the injured players, including Harold Landry and Brenden Schooler on the physically unable to perform and non-football injury lists, respectively.
