Patriots QB battle with Drake Maye ‘definitely’ not over

Drake Maye still has a chance to pass Jacoby Brissett and start Week 1 against Cincinnati, coach Jerod Mayo said.

Brissett started both preseason games and took regular first-team reps throughout training camp, but Mayo said he viewed the situation as a competition.

“We have three days of practice left and it’s our job as coaches to evaluate performances, and the competition is not over,” Mayo said. “They’re still going to play and they have to show not only what they are and what their coaches have to offer, but what they have to show their teammates. So it’s still a competition.”

Maye outshined Brissett on Thursday night in the Eagles’ 14-13 preseason loss at Gillette Stadium. Maye scored New England’s lone touchdown on a 4-yard option run and finished 6-of-11 passing for 47 yards. He also threw an impressive deep pass to Javon Baker that would have been a highlight had it not been missed.

Meanwhile, Brissett struggled, completing 3 of 7 passes for 17 yards, including an interception in the red zone on New England’s opening drive. Brissett tried to force a pass to Austin Hooper in the end zone, and Philadelphia’s Avonte Maddox stepped up to recover the interception.

“We just forced the play,” Mayo said. “We had other guys open on that play and it was just a poor play, a terrible play. We can’t have that, especially when you have guaranteed points on the board.”

“We went from ‘we’ve got a field goal pretty much guaranteed’ to a seven-point game by losing the ball,” Mayo added. “So it’s just a poor game overall and I think if you ask Jacoby, he’ll tell you the same thing.”

Mayo was asked what Maye needs to do to prove he’s ready to start on Opening Day.

“I think first of all, he’s got to get the surgery done faster,” Mayo said. “I think he’s got to get these guys in the huddle faster, get them out of the huddle faster, get to the line and get ready. I think that’s definitely something he’s got to work on and I think he’s doing it. We’ve got three more days of camp and that’s what I’m going to stress to him.”

Pressure management is one aspect of Maye’s game that has shown significant improvement, Mayo said. Maye is moving much better than he used to.

“Some of the things that have happened the last couple of weeks have just been putting pressure on,” Mayo said. “I think he’s done a better job overall of using his legs and really extending plays. He’s made some good throws, and we haven’t been able to catch him, but he’s definitely taken a step forward.”

Maye and Brissett each played one series in the preseason opener against the Panthers. Maye completed 2 of 3 passes for 19 yards. Brissett completed 0 of 3.

Maye has trained primarily with the second team this summer and has yet to rehearse with the starters.

“We’ll see,” Mayo said. “We’ll have a staff meeting later today and that decision will be made. I think he definitely showed progress yesterday overall and we’ll see what happens going forward.”