The New England Patriots find themselves in the midst of an emerging quarterback controversy following their disappointing 24-3 loss to the New York Jets on Thursday night. With veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett struggling to lead a productive offense, head coach Jerod Mayo’s recent comments have sparked speculation about a potential change under center.
Brissett, who has struggled to find consistency in the Patriots’ offense, failed to make any significant impact against the Jets. His performance, coupled with the Patriots’ underwhelming 1-2 start, has many questioning whether it’s time for New England to turn to their rookie quarterback, Drake Maye.
Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft, made his debut in garbage time during Thursday’s loss, showing flashes of potential while driving the team into the red zone. Despite a few impressive plays, including an 11-yard scramble for a first down, Maye also experienced the growing pains of a rookie, taking two sacks during his brief appearance, one of which ended the game.
When asked about Brissett’s future as the starter, Coach Mayo initially appeared non-committal, telling reporters, “I don’t know. We talk about it every single week . . . we’ll get together as a coaching staff.” This uncertainty naturally fueled speculation about whether a change at quarterback could be imminent.
However, Mayo attempted to quell the rumors the following day, offering a vote of confidence in Brissett: “Jacoby is our quarterback until he’s not the quarterback. I thought last night he showed a lot of toughness, a lot of grit.” His comments suggested that Brissett would remain the starter, at least for the time being.
But with an offensive line that has allowed 11 sacks in just three games, Brissett’s job security remains shaky. He currently ranks in the bottom five in the league for average yards per pass attempt (5.1) and points per game (13), both concerning statistics for a team aiming to contend.
Mayo, known for his competitive nature, previously acknowledged that Maye had outplayed Brissett in training camp but still opted to start the veteran in Week 1. Whether the team will continue to give Brissett the reins or decide to invest in their future with Maye remains to be seen. For now, the Patriots are at a crossroads, and the quarterback debate is far from settled.