By R.L. Bynum
The much-anticipated New England Patriots debut of rookie quarterback Drake Maye will highlight Thursday’s games when the NFL exhibition schedule gets into full swing next weekend.
One of eight rookie UNC alums and 28 Tar Heels in camps, Maye will get his first pro snaps in the Patriots’ 7 p.m. home game (WRAZ, NFL Network) against the Carolina Panthers.
Maye admits that he still has plenty of work to do as he makes the challenging transition to the NFL.
“Still little things I could do better,” Maye said. “Just trying to do the little things well, and just pump up the guys.”
He’s drawn praise during camp for his steady demeanor, whether going through a tough practice or consistently hitting his targets.
“What you want to see as those guys go through adversity, you want to see them handle it the right way,” first-year Patriots coach Jerod Mayo told NBC Sports Boston of Maye’s tough days in camp. “You don’t want to see the explosions on the sideline. You don’t want to see any of that. It’s all about the next page and turning the page, and that’s what I appreciate.”
The third overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Maye is behind former N.C. State quarterback Jacoby Brissett on the depth chart.
“I got this feeling when we met with Drake in Carolina, just his overall mental toughness and competitiveness, and he understands that it’s not always going to be clean,” Mayo said. “I will say this, he’s handled it very well. I know that the players really enjoy working with him, and he’s a competitor.”
Maye enters the preseason games as one of three backup quarterbacks from UNC. The other two are with new teams: Sam Howell went from Washington to play behind Geno Smith in Seattle, and Mitch Trubisky went from Pittsburgh to be Josh Allen’s backup in Buffalo.
Others who have changed teams in the offseason are wide receiver Mack Hollins (going from Atlanta to Buffalo), cornerback Kyler McMichael (Arizona to Pittsburgh) and linebacker Andre Smith (Atlanta to Denver).
Another anticipated rookie debut will be one of Maye’s UNC targets last year. Tez Walker enters the preseason games as Baltimore’s second-string wide receiver behind Rashod Bateman. The Ravens host Philadelphia at 7:30 on Friday.
Tennessee rookie linebacker Cedric Gray, listed as second string heading into the Titans’ first exhibition game at 7 p.m. Saturday against San Francisco, is also likely to get numerous snaps.
Four Tar Heels are projected as starters heading into the preseason, with neither Denver running back Javonte Williams nor second-year Indianapolis wide receiver Josh Downs as surprises. Not as expected were second-year Detroit wide receiver Antoine Green and Atlanta cornerback Mike Hughes being listed atop their respective depth charts.
Williams started 14 games last season and had 774 rushing yards and 228 reception yards. Downs started seven games last season and caught 68 passes for 771 yards and two touchdowns.
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Green played only nine games last season and caught only one pass. Hughes started three times a year ago and had 20 tackles.
Other UNC alums listed as second string on depth charts besides Maye, Howell, Trubisky and Gray are Hollins, Washington wide receiver Dyami Brown, Minnesota running back Ty Chandler, Houston right tackle Charlie Heck, Pittsburgh linebacker Cole Holcomb, Dallas offensive lineman Asim Richards and Houston safety M.J. Stewart.
Chandler, who ran for 461 yards last season, will likely do a good bit of kick returning in his third NFL season.
Heck missed Houston’s 21-17 loss to Chicago in Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game with plantar fasciitis in a foot and could be out for a few weeks.
As linebacker Tomon Fox enters his third season with the New York Giants, his brother Tomari Fox is a rookie defensive tackle with Las Vegas. Linebacker Amari Gainer is another rookie Tar Heel with the Raiders.
Other UNC rookies trying to earn roster spots are Houston running back British Brooks (listed as fifth string), Arizona defensive end Myles Murphy (fourth string) and Minnesota right tackle Spencer Rolland (third string). Brooks only got one carry for -2 yards in the Texans’ loss Thursday to Chicago.
After being used sparingly with the New York Jets, running back Michael Carter was dealt midseason to the Arizona Cardinals. Carter, who got only eight carries in nine games with the Jets and 22 in six games with the Cardinals, is listed as fifth string.
Tar Heels in NFL camps
Michael Carter, Tennessee Titans running back
Age 27 | 5–8, 201 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string running back
Team record — 1–7; 4th in AFC South
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 carries, 7 yards (3 longest); 1 catch on 1 target, 7 yards; 48.2 offensive grade, 61.1 pass grade, 25.0 pass-block grade, 46.1 run grade, 60.0 run-block grade
Week 9 — Open date
Week 10 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Jacksonville, Fox
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Dallas, Fox
Josh Downs, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Age 25 | 5–9, 171 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver
Team record — 6–2; 2nd in AFC West
Season statistics (Colts) — 9 games, 6 starts, 33 catches, 354 yards (42 longest), 1 touchdown; 1 carry, 7 yards; 2 punt returns, 20 yards; 68.0 offensive grade, 67.5 pass grade, 63.1 run grade, 62.5 run-block grade
Week 9 — Cowboys 27, Colts 23 (home) | started: 3 catches on 6 targets, 26 yards (9 longest); 49 offensive snaps (77%); 51.1 offensive grade, 51.1 pass grade, 59.8 run-block grade
Week 10 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Atlanta, CBS
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Arizona, CBS
Joshua Ezeudu, Kansas City Chiefs tackle/guard
Age 26 | 6–4, 310 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–21
Roster situation — Second-string left guard
Team record — 6–2; 2nd in AFC West
Season statistics — 7 games, 1 start, 111 offensive snaps and 10 special-teams snaps; 66.3 offensive grade, 54.7 pass-blocking grade, 81.8 run-blocking grade
Week 9 — Chiefs 35, Jets 12 (home) | 24 offensive snaps; reported tackle-eligible once; season-high 79.5 offensive grade, 62.7 pass-block grade, season-high 81.8 run-block grade
Week 10 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Atlanta, CBS
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Arizona, CBS
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 23 | 6–2, 235 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting weakside linebacker
Team record — 1–7; 4th in AFC South
Season statistics — 7 games, 2 starts, 16 tackles, 16 assists, ½ sack; 63.0 defensive grade, 65.0 run grade, 88.3 tackle grade, 51.8 pass-rush grade, 63.2 coverage grade
Week 9 — Open date
Week 10 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Jacksonville, Fox
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Dallas, Fox
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers running back
Age 23 | 6–0, 220 | second NFL season | UNC 2022–24
Roster situation — Starting running back
Team record — 0–8; 4th in AFC West
Season statistics — 8 games, 6 starts, 102 carries, 369 yards (32 longest), 3.6 average, 3 touchdowns; 11 catches, 63 yards (18 longest); 2 fumbles (2 lost); 59.8 offensive grade, 47.3 pass game grade, 82.6 pass-block grade, 60.0 run grade
Week 9 — Texans 44, Chargers 22 (home) | started: 13 carries, 60 yards (32 longest), 4.6 average; 29 offensive snaps (40%); 62.5 offensive grade, 32.3 pass grade, 77.2 pass-block grade, 60.0 run-block grade
Week 10 — 8:15 Monday at Baltimore, ESPN
Week 11 — 4:05 Sunday vs. New York Jets, Fox
Charlie Heck, Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman
Age 29 | 6–8, 311 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2015–19
Roster situation — Reserve; signed Oct. 29 to 53-man roster after Miami waived him during training camp
Team record — 2–7; 3rd in AFC South
2025 statistics (Tampa Bay) — 18 games, 1 tackle, 701 offensive snaps, 73 special-teams snaps
Week 9 — Cowboys 27, Colts 23 (home) | not active for game
Week 10 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Miami, CBS
Week 11 — 8:15 Thursday at Houston, Prime Video
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 29 | 6–1, 240 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Second-string right inside linebacker
Team record — 6–2; 1st in AFC North
Season statistics — 8 games, 4 tackles, 4 assists; 63.6 defensive grade, 56.1 special-teams grade
Week 9 — Open date
Week 10 — 8:20 Sunday at Cincinnati, NBC
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Philadelphia, CBS
Mack Hollins, New England Patriots wide receiver
Age 33 | 6–4, 221 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver
Team record — 5–4; 2nd in AFC East
Season statistics — 5 games, 4 starts, 18 catches, 245 yards (26 longest), 13.6 average, 1 touchdown; 80.4 offensive grade, 78.6 pass grade, 78.8 run-block grade
Week 9 — Packers 45, Patriots 27 (home) | started: 3 catches on 6 targets, 36 yards (22 longest), 1 touchdown (22-yard reception, 1:11, third quarter); 43 offensive snaps (68%); 66.7 offensive grade, 78.6 pass grade, 58.8 run-block grade; returned after spending four games on injured reserve with a calf injury
Week 10 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Detroit in Munich, Fox
Week 11 — Open date
Sam Howell, Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Age 26 | 6–1, 225 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Backup quarterback
Team record — 4–5; 2nd in NFC East
2024 season statistics with Seattle (didn’t play last season; hasn’t played this season); didn’t play in 2025 when with Philadelphia — 2 games, 5 of 14, 24 yards, 1 interception, 14.6 passer grade; 1 carry, 2 yards
Week 9 — Cowboys 27, Colts 23 (road) | didn’t play
Week 10 — 4:25 Sunday vs. San Francisco, Fox
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Tennessee, Fox
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 29 | 5–10, 191 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting cornerback
Team record — 3–6; 3rd in NFC South
Season statistics — 9 games, 6 starts, 24 tackles, 11 assists, 5 passes defended; 52.0 defensive grade, 89.6 run grade, 63.9 tackle grade, 43.1 coverage grade
Week 9 — Bengals 34, Falcons 17 (at Madrid) | didn’t start: 1 tackle, 20 offensive snaps (35%), 12 special-teams snaps (46%); 63.9 defensive grade, 60.0 run-defense grade, season-high 81.2 tackle grade, 63.6 coverage grade
Week 10 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Kansas City, CBS
Week 11 — Open date
Alijah Huzzie, Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback
Age 25 | 5–10, 195 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Reserve
Team record — 6–2; 2nd in AFC South
Season statistics — 1 game, 13 special-teams snaps; 46.1 special-teams grade
Week 9 — Jaguars 33, Ravens 10 (road on Thursday) | not active
Week 10 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Tennessee, Fox
Week 11 — 4:25 Sunday at New York Giants, CBS
Willie Lampkin, Philadelphia Eagles guard/center
Age 24 | 5–11, 290 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Second-string left guard
Team record — 2–7; 4th in NFC East
Season statistics — 9 games, 2 starts; 131 offensive snaps, 65 special-teams snaps; 53.4 offensive grade
Week 9 — Giants 19, Eagles 11 (home) | 2 offensive snaps (3%), 6 special-teams snaps (20%); reported tackle-eligible once; 60.0 offensive grade, season-low 47.9 special-teams grade
Week 10 — Open date
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Pittsburgh, CBS
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 24 | 6–4, 225 | third NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation — Starting quarterback
Team record — 5–4; 2nd in AFC East
Season statistics — 9 games, 9 starts, 178 of 272, 2,282 yards (8.4 average), 18 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 20 sacks (103 yards in losses), 96.8 passer rating; 47 carries, 219 yards, 4.7 average, 3 touchdowns; 6 fumbles (2 lost), 2 fumble recoveries; 79.2 offensive grade, 77.8 pass grade, 67.1 run grade, 60.0 run-block grade
Week 9 — Packers 45, Patriots 27 (home) | started: 21 of 38, 299 yards (36 longest), 3 touchdowns (30-yard pass to Stevenson, 9:23, 2nd quarter; 8-yard pass to Chism, 2:37, 2nd quarter; 22-yard pass to Hollins, 1:11, 3rd quarter), 3 interceptions, 74.3 passer rating; 1 carry, 3 yards; 51 offensive snaps (81%); 59.5 offensive grade, 60.6 pass grade, 56.3 run grade, 60.0 run-block grade
Week 10 — 9:30 a.m. Sunday vs. Detroit in Munich, Fox
Week 11 — Open date
Asim Richards, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 25 | 6–4, 307 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Starting left tackle
Team record — 3–5; 2nd in NFC East
Season statistics — 8 games, 317 offensive snaps, 22 special-teams snaps
Week 9 — Saints 23, Browns 22, OT (home) | 6 special-teams snaps (18%)
Week 10 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Carolina, Fox
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Chicago, Fox
M.J. Stewart, Houston Texans safety
Age 30 | 5–11, 205 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2014–17
Roster situation — Second-string safety (activated from PUP list on Oct. 10)
Team record — 3–5; 2nd in AFC South
Season statistics — 4 games, 1 start, 12 tackles, 8 assists, 1½ sacks, 1 pass defended; 47.7 defensive grade, 52.3 run defense grade, 51.5 tackle grade, 73.9 pass-rush grade, 46.6 coverage grade
Week 9 — Texans 44, Chargers 22 (road) | didn’t start: 4 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack; 51 defensive snaps (71%), 8 special-teams snaps (24%); 50.2 defensive grade, 69.2 run grade, season-high 80.6 tackle grade, 70.8 pass-rush grade, 44.4 coverage grade.
Week 10 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cleveland, Fox
Week 11 — 8:15 Thursday vs. Indianapolis, Prime Video
Chazz Surratt, Seattle Seahawks linebacker
Age 29 | 6–2, 233 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string weakside linebacker
Team record — 5–4; 2nd in NFC West
Season statistics — 5 games, 1 solo tackle, 1 assist; 64.8 special-teams grade
Week 9 — Seahawks 17, Cardinals 3 (home) | 2 special-teams tackles; 17 special-teams snaps (81%); season-high 75.5 special-teams grade
Week 10 — 4:05 Sunday at Las Vegas, CBS
Week 11 — Open date
Mitch Trubisky, Tennessee Titans quarterback
Age 32 | 6–3, 222 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Cam Ward
Team record — 1–7; 4th in AFC South
2025 statistics with Buffalo (hasn’t played this season) — 4 games, 25 of 35, 313 yards (37 longest), 4 touchdowns, 1 2-point conversion completion; 9 carries, 6 yards (9 longest)
Week 9 — Open date
Week 10 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Jacksonville, Fox
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Dallas, Fox
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–1, 198 | third NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
Team record — 4–5; 4th in AFC North
Season statistics — 7 games, 3 starts, 4 catches, 75 yards (47 longest), 1 touchdown
Week 9 — Jaguars 33, Ravens 10 (home) | 15 offensive snaps (27%), 2 special-teams snaps (7%)
Week 10 — 8:15 Monday vs. Los Angeles Chargers, ESPN
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Carolina, Fox
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 26 | 5–10, 220 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back
Team record — 4–5; 2nd in NFC East
Season statistics — 9 games, 9 starts, 154 carries, 629 yards (4.1 average), 9 touchdowns; 24 catches, 127 yards (17 longest), 5.3 average, 1 touchdown; 2 fumbles; 73.2 offensive grade, 80.1 pass grade, 57.4 pass-block grade, 70.6 run grade, 59.0 run-block grade
Week 9 — Cowboys 27, Colts 23 (road) | started: 20 carries, 101 yards (15 longest), 1 touchdown (1-yard run, 1:08 fourth quarter); 4 catches on 5 targets (13 longest), 23 yards; 57 offensive snaps (72%); 72.7 offensive grade, 76.3 pass grade, 73.4 pass-block grade, 69.1 run grade
Week 10 — 4:25 Sunday vs. San Francisco, Fox
Week 11 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Tennessee, Fox
On season-ending injured reserve
— New Orleans running back Ty Chandler; suffered a knee injury in the second preseason game; ran for 45 yards in two preseason games
On injured reserve
— Houston running back British Brooks (hamstring injury)
— Washington wide receiver Dyami Brown (calf injury)
— New York Giants rookie cornerback Thaddeus Dixon (torn Achilles)
On practice squads
— Los Angeles Rams center Austin Blaske; played every offensive snap of all 3 preseason games
— Minnesota defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie; had four tackles and three assists in 77 total preseason snaps
— Baltimore linebacker Kaimon Rucker; had 5 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack (6 yards), 2 tackles for losses and 1 quarterback hit
Waived
— Cornerback Marcus Allen (with injury settlement) by Minnesota; had 2 tackles, 1 assist in 45 preseason snaps
— Cornerback Storm Duck by Miami
— Linebacker Power Echols by Seattle
— Linebacker Tomon Fox by Los Angeles Rams; had 1 tackle and 13 special-teams tackles in 2 preseason games
— Linebacker Amari Gainer by New England; had 4 tackles and 2 assists in 3preseason games
— Defensive end Smith Vilbert by Minnesota; had one tackle in 47 preseason snaps
Waived with injury designation
— Tight end Bryson Nesbit by Minnesota after collecting 3 catches for 29 yards in two preseason games; had been listed as fifth string
Photo via @Patriots
