FOXBORO — The Patriots would only give their fans — and opposing teams — a glimpse of their top quarterbacks Thursday night in their 17-3 preseason win over the Panthers.

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo trotted out his starters for two drives, but they had limited success against the Panthers, who benched their starters and injured backup quarterback Andy Dalton in the preseason opener.

The Patriots’ backups got the better of the Panthers, however.

Here’s what we learned about the Patriots in their win.

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1. Patriots guarding their quarterbacks

Jacoby Brissett started and received just one drive behind the Patriots’ starting offensive line before rookie Drake Maye replaced him. Then Maye got just one drive behind the same starting offensive line.

The Patriots had all of their offensive linemen available, but Maye playing just one series could speak to head coach Jerod Mayo’s lack of trust in the backup offensive line.

Maye — 2-of-3 for 19 yards — had more success than Brissett — 0-for-3. And the starting offensive line actually held up just fine for both quarterbacks. They opened up room for Rhamondre Stevenson to run for 11 yards on the first offensive series. They also blocked well on a 13-yard screen from Maye to running back Antonio Gibson.

The Patriots gave Zappe a long look to the fans’ chagrin. He had a very Zappe-esque performance, going 12-of-20 for 108 yards without a touchdown or interception in two quarters.

Rookie sixth-round pick Joe Milton III invigorated the remaining fans when he entered the game late in the third quarter with a weaving 12-yard scramble. He completed a bullet to undrafted free-agent wide receiver JaQuae Jackson for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter and finished 4-of-6 for 54 yards with the score.

Zappe is a sympathetic character who hasn’t been helped by the situation he’s been placed in with the Patriots, but there’s little doubt that Milton should win the third-string job behind Brissett and Maye based on his potential alone. He might have the strongest arm in the NFL.

2. Starting offensive line

So, who was blocking for Brissett and Maye?

It was Vederian Lowe at left tackle, Sidy Sow at left guard, David Andrews at center, Mike Onwenu at right guard and Chukwuma Okorafor at right tackle. The biggest surprise there is that Okorafor, who sat out of the Patriots’ last three practices, suited up and played. But the starting five combination was just about what we expected based on practice reps.

When Bailey Zappe replaced Maye (to boos from the Gillette Stadium crowd), Michael Jordan came in at left guard, Nick Leverett replaced Andrews at center, rookie Hayden Robinson entered at right guard and Calvin Anderson subbed for Okorafor at right tackle. One drive later, rookie Caedan Wallace replaced Lowe at left tackle.

It’s not ideal that it’s early August, the season starts in a month, and Lowe is the best option to play left tackle. But a team source told the Herald that Lowe and Wallace have been the most consistent tackles in practice this summer.

3. Offense needs discipline

Through three offensive series, the Patriots had four penalties for 29 yards, and all of them came on offense. Okorafor and tight end La’Michael Pettway were called for false starts, tight end Mitchell Wilcox was flagged for holding, and Zappe got nailed for intentional grounding on a throwaway to the sideline from inside the pocket.

The Patriots’ offense has had pre-snap issues in training camp. While it seemed like some of the unforced errors had been cleaned up in recent practices, they reared their ugly head in-game.

4. Ja’Lynn Polk has strong hands

Polk proved he’s not just Mr. Reliable in training camp practices. He also snagged two passes from Zappe with defenders close by for 3- and 6-yard gains.

5. Kickers split duties

Joey Slye, the veteran, was first up to practice the NFL’s new kickoff. But Chad Ryland, the Patriots’ 2023 fourth-round pick, kicked the extra point after Harris’ rushing touchdown.

Slye later nailed a 42-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

6. A new approach with special teamers

Special-teams maven Brenden Schooler, who received just two defensive snaps all of last season and three last preseason, was one of the Patriots’ first defensive reserves on Thursday night. He joined Kyle Dugger and Jaylinn Hawkins in a big nickel package, lining up at strong safety. On the next drive, he took snaps at free safety.

Schooler is certainly not entirely new to defense. He was a defensive starter for Oregon in 2016 as a free safety before moving to wide receiver. He finished his college career at Texas primarily as a contributor on the kicking game.

7. Top returners

The Patriots didn’t receive a kickoff until the second half. But wide receiver Jalen Reagor was the team’s top punt returner, followed by wide receiver K.J. Osborn. Reagor then got another shot before giving way to undrafted wide receiver David Wallis.

Wallis had one of the game’s top plays with a 23-yard return. Reagor returned one punt for -2 yards, and Osborn returned one punt for 1 yard.

Running back Kevin Harris and cornerback Isaiah Bolden were back for the first kickoff. Harris returned it 20 yards.

Up

DT Jeremiah Pharms

Granted, it was against third-string quarterback Jack Plummer with the Panthers resting their starters, but Pharms did a pretty good impression of Christian Barmore as an absolute wrecking ball up front. He sacked Plummer and drew two holding flags while adding two more tackles.

WR Kayshon Boutte

Boutte leaped up and snagged a 28-yard pass from Bailey to set up a 2-yard rushing touchdown from running back Kevin Harris. Overall, he had three catches on four targets for 53 yards as he battles for a roster spot. He did have a downfield pass by Zappe clang off his fingertips early in the third quarter, and another contested target that fell off his hands from Milton.

OLB Oshane Ximines

A late free-agent signing, Ximines showed up on special teams with an impressive tackle on a punt return and on defense, strip-sacking Plummer.

QB Joe Milton III

Sure, it was against third-stringers, but Milton was the most productive quarterback on the roster Thursday when accounting for playing time.

Down

TE Mitchell Wilcox

The reserve tight end was called for holding and dropped two passes from Zappe.

RT Chukwuma Okorafor

Okorafor, who is expected to start at either left or right tackle this season, had a bad false start on Maye’s series.

OT Calvin Anderson

The veteran left tackle let up a 15-yards sack to Panthers outside linebacker Derrick McLendon midway through the third quarter when Zappe was still at QB. Rookie tackle Wallace also let up pressure on the play.