FOXBORO — The Patriots are giving fans a big reason to tune into Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Panthers.

Rookie quarterback Drake Maye is expected to play Thursday night, according to head coach Jerod Mayo.

“Drake will play,” Mayo said Tuesday. “When he gets in the game, we’ll talk about that, but he will play in the game. Everyone who is healthy enough to play in the game will play in the game.”

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Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has been taking second-team reps behind veteran Jacoby Brissett in Patriots training camp. Rookie Joe Milton III and third-year pro Bailey Zappe have been splitting third- and fourth-team reps.

Mayo said the plan is for Brissett to start on Thursday, but warned that it’s only Tuesday and that things could still change.