BOSTON – Jacoby Brissett started the Patriots’ final preseason game against the Commanders on Sunday night, but the veteran quarterback played just one series after suffering a hard hit to his right shoulder during his final practice before the regular season.
With Brissett likely to begin the regular season as New England’s No. 1 quarterback, the last thing the Patriots wanted to see was see him take a major hit on Sunday night. But Brissett was taken down by Washington’s KJ Henry after New England’s offensive line fell apart on a play.
Patriots left guard Sidy Sow ran into rookie right guard Layden Robinson on the play, giving Henry the opportunity to hit Brissett hard. Henry did just that, sending Brissett hard to the turf for a loss of seven yards. Brissett stayed in the game but was visibly shaken after the hit.
Brissett got good protection from his line two plays later and didn’t seem to mind his shoulder as he delivered a nice long ball downfield to KJ Osborn. But the receiver tried to catch the pass one-handed and it fell incomplete, robbing the New England offense of a big play.
That was it for Brissett, who took the spot for rookie Drake Maye after that one series. Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said his veteran would only play one or two series before the game, so Brissett might take the field one more time before taking that big hit. Brissett was not examined on the sideline and the team listed his return in the second quarter as “questionable,” so the Patriots don’t seem too worried about the potential injury.
Brissett completed 2 of 4 passes for 19 yards against the Commanders, capping off a lackluster preseason. In the three practice games, Brissett completed just 5 of 15 passes for 38 yards and one interception in the red zone.
Maye led the Patriots to an 88-yard touchdown in 11 plays on his first drive of the game, scoring a 19-yard touchdown with running back Kevin Harris that gave New England a 7-0 lead.
Mayo said he will likely know by Monday who the team’s starting quarterback will be in Week 1. Brissett’s potential injury — and another big game from Maye — will make that decision a little more difficult for the head coach in his first year.
