FOXBORO — The Patriots adjusted their quarterback reps during Tuesday’s organized team activities session at Gillette Stadium.

Drake Maye, the team’s No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, took reps behind veteran Jacoby Brissett and in front of Bailey Zappe. That was new, based on what the media saw through the Patriots’ first two open OTAs sessions, when Zappe, who was the team’s starter to finish the 2023 season, was No. 2 behind Brissett, and Maye was sandwiched in at No. 3 ahead of fellow rookie Joe Milton III, a sixth-round pick.

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And it was the most notable takeaway from Tuesday’s practice.

The importance of Maye taking those second-team reps depends on who you want to listen to, however.

Head coach Jerod Mayo said Tuesday before practice that there are no starters, and there is no depth chart.

“Seriously, if you look out here today, you’ll see people that we consider starters rolling with a different group,” Mayo said. “So, I wouldn’t look too much into that.”

But offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said before practice that for Maye to increase his reps in practice, he’d have to earn them.

“We always talk about earning your reps around here. So, as he continues to grow and have success from the practices and start stacking those, then we can think about moving him up the depth chart,” Van Pelt said. “It’s a process, and it’s a marathon, so we’re gonna take our time and do it the right way.”

Based on Tuesday’s practice, it appears that Maye earned the right to take reps behind Brissett, whom Van Pelt referred to as the top QB on Tuesday when asked if the Patriots have a goal or timetable on when Maye could be the starting quarterback.

“I think you have to take that as it comes,” Van Pelt said. “I think that will be combination of a couple things. When those decisions are made, it will be made together as a group with (executive vice president of player personnel) Eliot (Wolf) and Coach Mayo. But when that time comes, we’ll see, but there is no timetable. Jacoby again, is our starter, he’s played excellent football for us this spring, and Drake is coming on. So until that changes, we’ll stick with it.”

Maye didn’t make too much out of his apparent move up a depth chart that doesn’t exist, according to the team’s head coach.

“I think it’s a battle. Me and Jacoby and Bailey, we’re battling,” Maye said. “They’re mixing it up who goes with who each day. It’s not necessarily, ‘You’re going first, you’re going second.” Jacoby’s getting first, and then from there, we’re just playing it by ear. It matters how you do when you’re in there, so that’s what happens.”

Patriots coaches have praised Zappe’s professionalism in what could otherwise be an awkward situation for a player who started in 2022 as a rookie and in 2023, leading the Patriots to a 4-4 record.

Brissett has an advantage as a ninth-year NFL veteran who has started games with Van Pelt as his offensive coordinator with the Browns in 2022.

None of the Patriots’ quarterbacks asserted themselves very well in Tuesday’s practice, which saw the team’s defense, returning most of last season’s starters, dominate.

Brissett was 3-of-10 with four sacks in 11-on-11s and 9-of-19 overall. Maye was 3-of-6 with two interceptions and a sack in 11-on-11s and 6-of-10 overall. Zappe was 2-of-4 in 11-on-11s and 4-of-8 overall. Milton was just 1-of-4 overall.

Maye said there was some miscommunication between himself and running back Antonio Gibson on an interception from safety Kyle Dugger.

“Just seeing man-zone. It’s always easy to go right after and say, ‘hey, I should have done this or done that.’ I thought he was going to keep running, and he might have seen zone and stopped, so just being on the same page,” Maye said. “We’ve got to make a better decision and protect the football.”

Dugger dove to pick off the errant throw. Maye’s first interception on the day was overthrown to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster over the middle and picked off by rookie undrafted free agent Kaleb Ford-Dement. Maye’s only completions during 11-on-11s were on a screen and two checkdowns.

Maye will have to improve upon those mistakes to continue moving up the Patriots’ quarterback pecking order. Mayo is understanding that mistakes will be made by his rookie quarterbacks.

“He’s doing well. He’s headed in the right direction,” Mayo said before practice. “A lot of times people think it’s this longitudinal, just straight line up to the top, and realistically, it’s up and down, up and down, up and down. But hopefully, you end up still – from left to right – going in the right direction. So, he’s doing well. You guys, I’m sure, will evaluate him today at practice.”