FOXBORO — The Patriots’ top two quarterbacks made only brief cameos in New England’s first game of the 2024 preseason.

Veteran Jacoby Brissett — the clear QB1 since training camp began last month — played the first series Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers before being relieved by top draft pick Drake Maye.

That early exit was not surprising. Probable starters rarely see much playing time in Week 1 of the preseason, and Maye needs all the reps he can get as the Patriots attempt to mold him into their quarterback of the future. But the rookie’s outing didn’t last long, either.

Maye also played just one drive before head coach Jerod Mayo handed the reins to third-year pro Bailey Zappe.

Brissett’s series opened with an 11-yard Rhamondre Stevenson run against the Panthers’ second-string defense, then quickly stalled. Brissett threw consecutive incompletions to Mitchell Wilcox and Tyquan Thornton before throwing the ball away on third down while being chased out of bounds by K’Lavon Chaisson.

His underneath pass to Wilcox sailed high, perhaps due to the rainy conditions at Gillette Stadium, and bounced off the tight end’s fingertips. The throw to Thornton — a 40-yard deep ball down the right sideline — hung in the air and was broken up by cornerback Lamar Jackson, who had the Patriots speedster blanketed.

Brissett played being a starting offensive line of (from left) Vederian Lowe, Sidy Sow, David Andrews, Mike Onwenu and Chukwuma Okorafor, with Sow and Okorafor both playing after missing time with injuries earlier in the week. Sow, Andrews and Onwenu should be the Patriots’ starting interior trio this season if healthy. The ongoing offensive tackle competition has been a major storyline in training camp, with Lowe and Okorafor battling rookie Caedan Wallace and veteran Calvin Anderson for the two top spots.

Stevenson started at running back, with Austin Hooper and Wilcox at tight end and K.J. Osborn and Thornton at wide receiver. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jalen Reagor both saw time at wideout on the opening drive. Projected starting tight end Hunter Henry dressed but did not play.

The top O-line remained in for Maye, who’s played behind backups for much of camp. The highly touted North Carolina product went 2-for-3 with short completions to running backs Antonio Gibson and Kevin Harris. Both were screen passes behind the line of scrimmage, with the one to Gibson helping New England move the chains on third-and-13 after an Okorafor false start. The pass to Harris gained 6 yards on third-and-11, and the Patriots punted.

Second-round rookie wideout Ja’Lynn Polk saw snaps during Maye’s brief appearance. Fourth-rounder Javon Baker did not enter until after Zappe had taken over.