Jerod Mayo officially announced Jacoby Brissett as the Patriots starter on Thursday as the team prepared to practice for the final time before a three-day break over Labor Day weekend. With the September 8 opener at Cincinnati fast approaching, the team has set its course to begin the 2024 season.
"It's nothing I take for granted, that's for sure," said Brissett during media access to the locker room that came shortly after Mayo made the announcement. "I'm excited. You know, it's been a lot of work, a lot of long days, long nights, and the journey to get to this point, and I'm grateful for this opportunity, but I'm also excited for it."
Brissett never wavered as the team's starter during 20 training camp practices. Despite a late push from Drake Maye, who used a rough joint practice outing against the Eagles as a springboard to a strong finish, the veteran Brissett was able to hold the third-overall pick off, even if it never really felt like it was a true competition for the top job.
"I wouldn't say [I'm] disappointed," said Maye shortly after Brissett spoke from the locker right next to his. "Obviously, you know, there are two ways to look at it, I want to play, that's the competitive edge in me, but at the same time I understand the situation coming in here and Jacoby knew the offense and got the reps with the ones all camp. So I can't really say I'm disappointed, but at the same time want to be playing."
Both Brissett and Maye confirmed that they would be supportive of each other going forward. It's easy to see the growing bond between the experienced vet and the wide-eyed rookie, while the hope is that the duo will push each other to be better every time they take the field.
"[Drake]'s done a great job, dating back from when he first got here to where he is now has been light years different," said Brissett. "I'm excited for his future, and he's gonna be a good quarterback in his league. He kind of came up to me with, like, 'man, whatever you need I'm here for,' and it's the same thing for him, whatever he needs for me, I'll do the same."
Now, the quarterbacks and the team will prepare to lock in on the Bengals to kick off the new campaign. Even though he won't be starting the game, Maye said he''d still be excited for his first regular season NFL game as a player.
"My brother Beau actually grew up a big Bengals fan, so it's pretty weird," said Maye with a smile. "But other than that, it'll be cool to go out there for my first NFL game and see what it's like."
As for the starter, Brissett needs no introduction to the Bengals. He started for the Colts against the Bengals in Cinci back in 2017, losing a tight 24-23 decision. In 2022 while with the Browns, Brissett knocked off the Bengals in Cleveland, 32-13, throwing for 278 yards with a touchdown. It's a team and a defense that he's familiar with and that experience is a big reason why he was brought in this offseason.
"I feel like we got a really good group of guys that are kind of excited as well to embark on this journey," said Brissett. "A lot of guys that are hungry to make names for themselves, prove people wrong and prove themselves right. And I'm excited for that. Not a lot of people are giving us a chance, and I think these guys in this room are gonna feed off of that."
Practice Report
The team wrapped up the week before a three-day break with a practice in shells on the lower fields. Two of the four waiver wire claims from Wednesday were in attendance -- Demontre Jacobs and Curtis Jacobs, while Zach Thomas and Eric Johnson were not spotted. Three of the players released yesterday, Jalen Reagor, Trysten Hill, and Michael Jordan were in attendance, a sign that three more practice squad spots have likely been filled. Isaiah Bolden could also be back but will have to pass through waivers on Thursday first.
In addition, a reported new signing, rookie center Bryan Hudson, was not yet spotted. The highly athletic undrafted rookie out of Louisville will provide some critical depth at an important position that struggled with depth behind David Andrews this summer.
Sidy Sow and Vederian Lowe, the two starters on the left side of the line for most of the summer, were again absent. With three days off coming up, their health will be a key piece to monitor when the team returns to Foxborough on Monday for practice.
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