The New England Patriots announced that Jacoby Brissett will be their starting quarterback to kick off the 2024 NFL season. Brissett was battling rookie Drake Maye for starting duties.
Patriots’ head coach Jerod Mayo confirmed the news in a press conference Thursday morning, telling reporters: “We have decided — or I have decided — that Jacoby Brissett will be our starting quarterback this season. In saying that, as an organization, we’re 100% behind Jacoby.” Mayo said he spoke to Brissett and rookie Drake Maye ‘separately and together’ about his decision: “There are a lot of factors that led to this choice. I think the hard part is thinking in the short term and the long term at the same time. As an organization, though, we feel like Jacoby gives us our best chance to win right now.”
Mayo added that he did not rule out Maye starting at some point during the season: “I don’t want to get into hypotheticals. We can’t go into the season saying, ‘well he is going to go X amount of weeks.’ As long as Jacoby is going out there performing the way we all have confidence in him doing, he will be our quarterback this season.”
Brissett began his career in New England in 2016, getting two starts when Tom Brady was suspended for Deflategate. In the preseason, Brissett completed 5 of 14 (35.7%) of his throws for 36 yards and an interception. Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, completed 21 of 34 (61.8%) of his throws for 192 yards and a score in the preseason.
Brissett signed a one-year deal with the Patriots in March, completing 18 of 23 passes (78.3%) of his throws for 224 yards and three scores over three appearances last season for the Washington Commanders. He completed 64% of his throws for 2,608 yards, 12 scores and six interceptions over 16 appearances in 2022 for the Cleveland Browns. The veteran QB owns an 18-30 record over 48 career starts.
The Patriots’ opening game against the Cincinnati Bengals will take place on Sept. 8 in Cincinnati.
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