The Patriots will trot out a high number of backups to start this game, as Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman highlight the group of starters who won’t play. Brady was not in the building Thursday, excused by the team to attend memorial services for a family member.
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The veteran offensive line coach, coaxed out of retirement to fine-tune an offensive line which seemed to be flagging, has watched the Saints pressure and pummel quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as blown assignments seem to be reigning early in the Patriots’ first preseason game. Garrett Grayson then came in and played the rest of the first half, going 10 out of 16 throws for 133 yards.
Some highlights from New Orleans’ first-team defense: two sacks, a tackle for loss and just one third-down conversion allowed in four attempts.
Yes, it was only the first preseason game, but we were able to glean a few things from Garoppolo’s 11-of-18, 168-yards performance Thursday. He converted a fourth-down run.
Trey Flowers continued his excellent game with a strip sack, which he recovered himself, and returned for a touchdown to create a two-score 31-22 lead.
Patriots: It wasn’t all good news for New England’s offense.
Pats rookie receiver Malcolm Mitchell was on a nice roll before suffering a gruesome-looking left arm injury on a reception by the New England sideline. It was a disappointing end to a productive evening for Mitchell, their fourth-round pick from Georgia. He held his elbow as he was helped to the locker room by trainers.
Hello from Gillette Stadium, where the Patriots and Saints are three and a half hours shy of kicking off their preseason opener. He caught four for 67 yards, including a long of 28. Undrafted free agent CB Cre’von LeBlanc might have had the defensive play of the night, intercepting McCown’s pass in the end zone with one hand. LG Joe Thuney also was in the starting lineup. Brees was a flawless 1 for 1 before leaving after the opening series.
Drew Brees completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 4,870 yards and 32 touchdowns against 11 interceptions.
Garoppolo has looked early and often to tight end Martellus Bennett, who seems to be consistently getting open.
Patriots: Including Brady, a total of 20 players did not play for New England.
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Saints: Eight players did not see action, including WR Jake Lampman and CBs Keenan Lewis and Damian Swann. “I think we reacted in the right way”.
