FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots kicked off the 2026 season with a tie.
Of course, Thursday’s 13-13 preseason tie with the Indianapolis Colts doesn’t count in the standings, but we still learned a lot from the exhibition opener.
The Patriots had a chance to beat the Colts in the final minute before kicker Andy Borregales missed a 49-yard field goal. It was Borregales’s third miss of the night. He also missed from 56 and 55 yards.
The Patriots held their starters out on Thursday night. Drake Maye and the rest of the first-teamers were in uniform but observed the game from the sidelines.
The defense impressed, forcing four turnovers, plus a turnover on downs, from the Colts’ backups. Cornerback Kindle Vildor and safety John Saunders III had interceptions, while safety Dell Pettus and defensive tackle Isaiah Iton recovered fumbles.
Here are Thursday night’s winners, losers and key takeaways.
BEST
CB Kindle Vildor
Vildor started at outside cornerback and picked off Colts QB Anthony Richards on the first defensive series. Vildor has been pushing for a roster spot behind Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Marcus Jones and Charles Woods. He’s vying for a spot with rookies Karon Prunty and Channing Canada, who were also part of the top defense.
OLB Gabe Jacas
Jacas helped force the interception with pressure off Richardson’s right side. He also contributed on special teams with two tackles. Jacas was a late arrival to training camp and missed the first week on the non-football injury list. Jacas did struggle to set the edge in the run game at times, so it wasn’t a perfect preseason debut.
LB K.J. Britt
Britt forced his own turnover, poking the ball out from Richardson after an 11-yard scramble. Defensive tackle Isaiah Iton recovered it. Britt made a run stuff for a two-yard tackle for loss on the preceding play. Britt, an offseason free-agent addition, has been playing behind Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss and Chad Muma as the team’s fourth linebacker. He certainly helped his case for a roster spot on Thursday.
Defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. also forced a fumble that was recovered by safety Dell Pettus.
WR Kyle Williams
In an ideal world, Williams, a 2025 third-round pick, wouldn’t be playing in the second quarter of a preseason opener, but it’s a deep group of wide receivers, and Williams made up for an offensive pass interference penalty with a 12-yard touchdown catch and a 25-yard pickup late in the first half of Thursday’s game.
S John Saunders Jr.
Saunders got in on the turnover party by intercepting Colts QB Riley Leonard to start off the second half. Saunders also contributed in the run game with two tackles.
WORST
Offensive line depth
Backup center/guard Ben Brown went down with an injury in the first quarter and had to be helped off the field, into the blue medical tent and to the locker room. Later, Andrew Rupcich, who’s been directly behind Brown on the interior offensive line depth chart, left the game.
Brown is a key player on the Patriots’ offensive line, which lacks depth at center and guard. Undrafted rookie Jake Rizy came into the game to replace Brown, while Mehki Butler entered the contest for Rupcich and immediately surrendered a sack. Behind Brown and Rupcich, the Patriots have Rizy, Butler, James Hudson and JonDarius Morgan. If Brown misses time, the Patriots might be forced to sign a veteran offensive lineman.
RB Lan Larison
Larison is in the mix for the No. 3 running back spot after Terrell Jennings was placed on injured reserve Thursday. He carried the ball seven times for just one yard while also catching six passes on seven targets for 39 yards and returning one kick for 24 yards.
Rookie running back Jam Miller fared better with 14 carries for 55 yards, but it wasn’t a decisive enough performance to lock up a roster spot. Hasaan Haskins (five carries, 15 yards) and JaMycal Hasty (five carries, 11 yards) — both signed within the last two days — also saw work.
OL James Hudson III
Hudson has been cross-training at guard and tackle. He allowed a sack and also was flagged for an ineligible man downfield penalty in the first half at guard before taking over for Marcus Bryant at left tackle in the second half.
K Andy Borregales
They weren’t all easy attempts, but Borregales missed three field goals on Thursday from 56, 55 and 49 yards. His final attempt, the 49-yarder, would have won the Patriots the game.
WHAT ELSE WE LEARNED
• It’s clear that the Patriots are considering A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs and DeMario Douglas as their starting wide receivers. They sat, while Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III all played in Thursday’s preseason opener.
• Tight end Eli Raridon only officially had one 8-yard catch on four targets, but he also had a 24-yard catch called back by penalty. Overall, the rookie looked athletic in limited opportunities.
• Caleb Lomu saw his first action at right tackle. The rest of the starting offensive line consisted of LT Marcus Bryant, LG Andrew Rupcich, C Ben Brown and RG James Hudson.
• It was interesting to see rookie Quintayvious Hutchins starting over Bradyn Swinson, who dressed, played on special teams and started the second half. Swinson has been working ahead of Hutchins in camp. He provided pressure on Saunders’ interception and later batted a pass to force a turnover on downs. Jesse Luketa worked opposite Swinson and had some impressive rushes.
• Marcellas Dial, who was viewed as the backup slot cornerback behind Marcus Jones entering the preseason, played behind rookie Channing Canada. Canada got his hands on a pass, but it ricocheted into a Colts pass-catcher’s hands.
• Undrafted rookie linebacker Khalil Jacobs entered the game ahead of fellow rookie Namdi Obiazor, who was a sixth-round pick.
• The most notable player who got the day off as a roster lock: OLB Elijah Ponder. He’s been starting all summer opposite Dre’Mont Jones, so we knew he was making the team. But it’s still a little surprising that the Patriots didn’t find it necessary to get him work since he only played sparingly as an undrafted rookie in 2025.
