5 players who need to impress during Patriots preseason Week 1

The long-awaited first preseason game is finally upon us, as the Patriots are set to take on the Panthers in the year's first preseason matchup on Thursday night. It might be a predominately non-competitive game, but it's the first time fans will see the new team in action under Jerod Mayo.

There will be plenty to watch for, even more so because the weather forecast does not look very promising, and several players will surely get the most attention. From the quarterbacks and rookies to the offensive line and the pass rushers, many storylines will be discussed during and after the game.

But within it all are a handful of players that will likely garner the most attention for various reasons, many of whom need standout performances. The following five players are at the top of the list needing to impress on Thursday night.

5 players who need to impress during Patriots preseason Week 1

QB Bailey Zappe

Because Jerod Mayo already stated that every player who is healthy will take the field at some point during the game, it should be expected that Bailey Zappe will take snaps at quarterback after Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye.

With the first two locking up the starting and backup roles, Zappe will be competing with rookie Joe Milton III for the final spot in the quarterback room, which has already not been going too well for the third-year quarterback.

He has moved down the depth chart since the start of training camp, therefore he will need to have a great showing against the Panthers on Thursday night to increase his chances of making the team this year.

No matter how many snaps he gets or who's on the field with him, Zappe has to take the opportunity to show the coaches why he is a solid choice for QB3. While it won't be the only chance he will have, with roster cuts not coming until the end of the month, it would be best for him to impress early on rather than in a later preseason game.

QB Drake Maye

Although his spot on the team is not in jeopardy like that of his quarterback counterpart, Drake Maye has had an underwhelming training camp so far. A standout performance in the team's first preseason game could quiet the negative chatter surrounding his future, proving exactly why the Patriots chose to draft him in the first place.

He is expected to get the second most reps behind Brissett, and this will be the rookie's chance to show how much he has improved since the spring and that he is NFL-ready by having a good performance.

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

Among the long list of wide receivers hoping to make the roster this year is perhaps the one leading the charge, JuJu Smith-Schuster. The former longtime Steeler has had a bumpy ride since signing with the Patriots last year, having one of the worst seasons of his career in 2023, which ultimately ended with an IR designation.

He returned to training camp this year by exclaiming he is fully healthy after dealing with a nagging knee injury, but his performance on the practice field hasn't moved the needle regarding his potential fit within the offense.

Smith-Schuster has taken a backseat to the rookie receivers during the offseason and has yet to string solid showings at practice to lock up a roster spot. He will have that chance against the Panthers on Thursday, especially with Kendrick Bourne not expected to play and Tyquan Thornton potentially sidelined due to a soft tissue injury.

DE Keion White

Similar to the reason Maye needs a good performance in this game, Keion White will need to show he can be the dominant pass rusher the defense needs, especially with Matthew Judon's future up in the air.

It appears Eliot Wolf hasn't decided to extend the veteran, which opens the door for White to show he can be the guy for the job if the GM chooses to move on from Judon after this upcoming season.

So, a good performance on Thursday could put him at the forefront of the pass rushers, potentially allowing him to be named a starter alongside Judon, which is even more of a possibility with Christian Barmore sidelined.

K Chad Ryland

The kicking competition the Patriots hoped to have between Chad Ryland and Joey Slye hasn't been what they expected. Neither have looked phenomenal, and could be considered average at best, which works in Ryland's favor.

Because Slye hasn't blown past him in practice, Ryland could secure his spot as the team's kicker with a solid performance in this game. He has a lot to make up for after a rookie season full of struggles, and a great preseason could do just that.

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