Sun, Aug 23, 2026
The Patriots' 24-21 preseason win over the Eagles came with a fresh injury and an unusually blunt admission from Mike Vrabel: backup OT Marcus Bryant left with an ankle/lower-leg injury and was ruled out, making him the third New England offensive lineman to exit a preseason game this summer after Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich, and Vrabel followed by saying “I don't think we have a very deep team” while declining to commit Drake Maye and the other starters to Thursday's finale in Cleveland. Contract news: Christian Gonzalez still has no extension and has not practiced since Aug. 10, with Devin McCourty publicly guessing the holdup is contract language rather than money. Other injury notes: rookie LB Khalil Jacobs went down in the first half, and Craig Woodson, Harold Landry, Brenden Schooler, TreVeyon Henderson, Eli Raridon and Kevin Byard were all absent. Separately, Eagles RB Ja'Quinden Jackson was carted off by ambulance on the opening kickoff (CT negative, movement in all extremities). On the field, undrafted rookie QB Behren Morton punted out of necessity and then threw a 37-yard game-winning touchdown to Nick DeGennaro.
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Kyle Crabbs breaks down Drake Maye checking in at No. 11 on the NFL's Top 100 Players list, voted by players, after his second-year breakout and the Patriots' Super Bowl run.
Second-round edge rusher Gabe Jacas played three full quarters against the Eagles without recording a tackle or a QB pressure; his lone impact was an unblocked hit on Andy Dalton that drew a roughing-the-passer flag and wiped out a Kindle Vildor interception. Vrabel called him “still inconsistent” but “very coachable,” noting Jacas is being loaded up on all four special-teams units and is needed at edge with Harold Landry injured.
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