Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots will open up the 2023 preseason Thursday night at home against the Houston Texans.
Don’t expect to see too many regulars in uniform for that matchup, however. Belichick was asked Tuesday if the “lesser-experienced players” will get the bulk of game action against Houston.
“Like all the NFL [opening] games. Yup,” Belichick said, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
The six-time Super Bowl champion head coach still hasn’t figured out how he will divvy up reps among his quarterbacks.
“But the players who are least experienced will get the most playing time,” he said, via NESN.com. “I can tell you that.”
Question: Thursday night, does that look like the type of setup where the lesser experienced players probably will start and get the most time?
Bill Belichick (nodding): “Like all the NFL [opening] games. Yup.” pic.twitter.com/zk3sB3bzrn
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 8, 2023
Mac Jones is reportedly not expected to play, which is a good sign for his likely status as the team’s starting quarterback for Week 1. That would leave Bailey Zappe, Trace McSorley and Malik Cunningham to split snaps against the Texans.
New England is coming off an 8-9 season in 2022, just their second losing campaign in Belichick’s 23 season as head coach.
However, it is their second losing mark in the last three years, a time span that coincides with Tom Brady leaving the franchise for Tampa Bay and later retirement.