Drake Maye is looking to turn the New England Patriots franchise around after a few rough seasons. Patriots fans hold the team to a standard that requires deep playoff runs and Super Bowl victories, thanks to the legendary Tom Brady. Now, Patriots fans are putting their faith in Maye to take them back to the mountaintop.
Keeping Maye healthy will be paramount for the Patriots while also making sure he gets his fair share of reps before Week 1 arrives. Maye appeared in two series in their preseason opener and could see time in their second game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Will Drake Maye Play Against the Minnesota Vikings?
Maye took over the starting job for New England in Week 6. He never looked back, and it’s his position for the foreseeable future. Maye finished the season with patches of brilliance in a tough situation where he was dealt a rough hand.
Looking to make a sophomore leap, Maye is using the preseason to work out any wrinkles with new head coach Mike Vrabel as the Patriots aim to leave the bad in the past.
This game could have been a contest between two 2024 first-round quarterbacks, but fans won’t get to see that one. Maye seeing time in this game has a realistic chance, but Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell ruled out J.J. McCarthy, robbing fans of a potential matchup of two top ten 2024 draft picks.
Maye didn’t see too much action against the Commanders but could benefit from some more game action before Week 1.
Maye’s two series in the opener were filled with both good and bad. Maye finished 3/5 for 12 yards and rushed twice for 16 yards and a touchdown. But Maye’s first drive ended with him coughing up a fumble, setting up the Commanders with great field position.
Drake Maye finds Pop Douglas in the end zone, via @Dust_Vikings:pic.twitter.com/pDctgFfAM1
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) August 14, 2025
Vrabel was noncommittal over whether he would be playing his starters against Minnesota. While he started them for a few possessions against Washington, he wasn’t ready to say if the starters would play more or less than they did in the previous outing.
Vrabel is taking the season day by day and hasn’t made a decision on how many players will play, saying he’s “focused on today and then see how much work we get in and tomorrow, and then if I feel comfortable, kind of figuring out where things go after that. So no, I have not.”
With the Patriots itching to get back into the playoffs, all eyes will be on Maye. While the Patriots made significant additions on both sides of the ball, the team will go as Maye goes. Getting him invaluable reps in practice is necessary. Maye has shown flashes in their joint practices against the Vikings with some nice throws.
Potentially getting game action against Minnesota could pay huge dividends for Maye and New England, but that is for Vrabel to decide. Maye’s status for Minnesota remains up in the air as the Patriots are taking the preseason day by day, making sure to maximize each opportunity.
