🚨 TIME UPDATE: New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts Officially Set — Everything Fans Need to Know About the 2026 Preseason Opener
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Patriots football is ready to return to Gillette Stadium.
The New England Patriots will officially open their 2026 preseason against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday, August 13, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM EDT in Foxborough.
The game will be shown locally on WBZ and the Patriots Preseason Television Network, with radio coverage available on 98.5 FM The Sports Hub.
Indianapolis also lists the matchup for 7:30 PM EDT at Gillette Stadium, with FOX59 carrying the game in the Colts’ market.
The score will disappear from the standings once the preseason ends.
The evaluations made Thursday night could last much longer.
Patriots Return After a Remarkable AFC Championship Season
New England enters 2026 in a dramatically different position than it occupied only two years ago.
In Mike Vrabel’s first season as head coach, the Patriots went 14-3 during the 2025 regular season, a 10-win improvement from their 4-13 finish in 2024.
New England then defeated the Chargers, Texans and Broncos in the playoffs to capture the AFC championship before falling 29-13 to Seattle in Super Bowl LX.
That turnaround has changed the expectations surrounding Foxborough.
The Patriots are no longer simply searching for signs of progress.
They are attempting to prove that last season’s run was the beginning of something sustainable.
Thursday represents the first game-action step in that process.
Drake Maye Enters Year Three as the Franchise Leader
Quarterback Drake Maye remains at the center of everything New England hopes to accomplish.
Maye finished second in MVP voting after his breakthrough 2025 season and, according to the Patriots’ official preseason position review, led the NFL in several major efficiency categories, including total QBR, passer rating and yards per attempt.
Training camp has shown Maye continuing to take command of Josh McDaniels’ offense.
Early camp reports highlighted deep connections with Kayshon Boutte along with completions to Hunter Henry and DeMario Douglas.
How much Maye actually plays against Indianapolis will depend on Vrabel’s preseason plan.
For an established starting quarterback on a team coming off a Super Bowl appearance, protecting health and maximizing productive repetitions will be more important than accumulating preseason statistics.
A.J. Brown Headlines a Revamped Receiver Room
One of the biggest reasons for excitement surrounding the Patriots offense is the arrival of A.J. Brown.
New England acquired Brown from Philadelphia this offseason, adding him to a receiver group that also includes Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams. Patriots.com described the group entering training camp as one of New England’s deepest receiving rooms in recent memory.
That gives Maye a considerably different collection of targets entering his third NFL season.
Preseason football should provide an early opportunity to study how the depth chart develops behind the established names.
For players further down the roster, every route matters.
A contested catch, a missed assignment or a strong special-teams rep can influence whether a player survives the final roster reduction.
Rookie Class Steps Into an NFL Game Environment
Thursday should be especially significant for New England’s 2026 draft class.
The Patriots selected nine players, beginning with Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu at No. 28 overall.
They followed with Illinois edge defender Gabe Jacas in the second round and Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon in the third.
Later selections included cornerback Karon Prunty, quarterback Behren Morton, running back Jam Miller and edge defender Quintayvious Hutchins.
Lomu arrives after starting 24 games at left tackle during his college career and earning first-team All-Big 12 recognition in his final season at Utah.
But no rookie enters the NFL with a guaranteed outcome.
Thursday will introduce a different level of speed, physicality and pressure than training camp practices can completely reproduce.
Backup Quarterback Competition Is Worth Watching
If Maye receives limited action, the spotlight will shift quickly to Tommy DeVito and rookie Behren Morton.
New England’s unofficial depth chart lists DeVito behind Maye with Morton third, while the Patriots reported before camp that DeVito received most of the second-team repetitions during minicamp.
Preseason games are particularly valuable for backup quarterbacks.
They must manage the huddle, work with constantly changing personnel and show coaches they can keep the offense functioning if called upon during the regular season.
Morton, a seventh-round selection, will also be attempting to show that he deserves a place in New England’s long-term quarterback plans.
Defense Adds Even More Experience
The Patriots also strengthened a defense that ranked fourth in both points and yards allowed during the 2025 regular season.
Veteran safety Kevin Byard III joined New England after leading the NFL with seven interceptions last season, while defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones was another notable veteran addition.
They join a defense featuring players such as Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Christian Barmore, Milton Williams and Robert Spillane.
Again, the preseason priority will be less about the established stars and more about determining the depth behind them.
Colts Provide More Than One Evaluation Opportunity
New England and Indianapolis were also scheduled to hold a joint practice on August 11 at the Patriots’ training facility before Thursday’s game.
The session was part of a training-camp plan that also includes two joint practices with Philadelphia later in August.
Those practices give coaches controlled opportunities to evaluate starters and specific situations.
The game provides something different.
Once kickoff arrives, coaches cannot simply restart a drill when something goes wrong.
Players must react.
That is precisely why Thursday matters so much for those fighting for roster spots.
Three Games Before the Real Season Begins
The Colts matchup is the first of three preseason games for New England.
The Patriots host the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday, August 22 at 7:00 PM EDT, then travel to Cleveland to face the Browns on Thursday, August 27 at 8:00 PM EDT on Prime Video.
Then the stakes change completely.
New England opens the regular season on Wednesday, September 9 at Seattle, a nationally televised Super Bowl LX rematch against the Seahawks.
Everything happening in August is preparation for that night.
Football Returns to Foxborough
The final preseason score may ultimately mean very little.
The individual performances will mean much more.
For rookies chasing their first NFL roster spot, backups seeking larger roles and offseason additions learning a new system, Thursday night represents the first real examination under stadium lights.
And for Patriots supporters, it represents something much simpler.
Football is back.
New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts. Thursday, August 13. 7:30 PM EDT. Gillette Stadium.
After a remarkable run to the Super Bowl, a busy offseason and months of anticipation, Patriots Nation finally gets its first game-night look at the 2026 team.
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