After New England's Week 2 preseason game, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel explained that he hasn't been playing key starters in the preseason because "I do not think we have a very deep team."

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel placed blame for a problem facing the team before the 2026 season.

The question came after a plethora of Patriots starters (including quarterback Drake Maye) did not play in preseason for the second straight week. Many had expected all of New England’s starters to feature to some extent in the 24-21 win over the Eagles, but Vrabel’s candid comment pointed toward a possible explanation.

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry is fine with head coach Mike Vrabel’s statement on the team’s depth . Vrabel recently turned heads when he said that New England is not a “very deep team.” That comment came as part of his explanation following last Saturday’s preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium in

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel has kept quarterback Drake Maye and other key starters out of the first two preseason games.

FOXBOROUGH - The question seemed harmless enough. Following the Patriots 24-21 preseason victory over the Philadelphia Eagles Saturday night, Mike Vrabel was asked how important it was for Drake Maye and some of the starters - who weren’t participants in the first two preseason games - to play in the final exhibition game Thursday night in Cleveland.

A 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles gave the New England Patriots their first preseason win of 2026. It also gave the Patriots an undefeated record at Gillette Stadium this preseason, following their 13-13 tie with the Indianapolis Colts to open the exhibition slate.

Danny Parkins and Coach Eric Mangini break down Deshaun Watson getting the Week 1 nod for the Cleveland Browns, the Baltimore Ravens’ defense and Mike Vrabel’s concerns about the New England Patriots’ depth.