Jerod Mayo: Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett Will Stay as Starter

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo confirmed on Friday that Jacoby Brissett will remain the starting quarterback, highlighting his resilience in the face of considerable pressure during the team’s recent 24-3 defeat against the New York Jets.

Mayo’s announcement followed a decision to bring in rookie quarterback Drake Maye, selected as the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, for his initial taste of regular-season action during the game’s late stages.

“Jacoby is our quarterback until I say he is not the quarterback,” Mayo asserted on Friday morning. “I thought he showed a lot of toughness, a lot of grit.”

In that game, Brissett completed 12 passes out of 18 attempts, accumulating 98 passing yards. However, he faced a formidable Jets defense, being sacked five times and hit a staggering 15 times as the Jets adopted an aggressive blitz strategy to take advantage of the undermanned Patriots offensive line. So far this season, Brissett has thrown 42 passes successfully out of 69 for a total of 368 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions in the first three games.

Following Thursday’s loss, Mayo expressed his coaching philosophy, indicating that competition for positions is ongoing among players. He mentioned plans to meet with the coaching staff to evaluate the future of the quarterback position.

Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt also conveyed his thoughts to the media on Friday, supporting Mayo’s decision to keep Maye in a backup role for now. “I still think it’s by watching. I think there’s a lot to be learned yet, and that’s where I’ll stand on that,” Van Pelt remarked, expressing optimism about Maye’s development. “Jacoby is our starter, and until that changes, we need to prepare him to win this game on Sunday against San Francisco.”

During his single drive against the Jets, Maye completed 4 out of 8 attempts for 22 yards and had two rushing attempts that netted 12 yards. This drive began at the Patriots’ 42-yard line but ended in a sack after reaching the Jets’ 7-yard line.

“Coming off the bench at that time is always tough, no matter what position you play, but especially for the quarterback,” Mayo said, praising Maye for his efforts to rally a drive despite the challenging moment. He acknowledged Maye’s athletic skills and ability to throw accurately. “It’s something to build off.”

In practice sessions, Mayo indicated that Maye has been receiving approximately 30 percent of the first-team snaps, a strategy the coaching staff intends to continue.

“Right now, I’d say it’s still status quo. Jacoby is still our starting quarterback, and we need to support him alongside all 11 guys on offense,” Mayo commented, emphasizing teamwork as pivotal moving forward.

The Patriots, currently holding a record of 1-2, are set to face the San Francisco 49ers on September 29. This game will be crucial as the team looks to bounce back from their recent struggles.