Three Things To Watch When Patriots Host Colts For Joint Practice

On Tuesday morning, the New England Patriots welcome the Indianapolis Colts to town for a joint practice. With the two team's starters likely to get more work against each other than they will in Thursday evening's preseason matchup, here are the four biggest things to watch during practice.

Drake Maye's Connection With New Receivers

The Patriots made two splash moves at the receiver position this offseason, signing former Packer Romeo Doubs to a four-year $68 million contract and trading for A.J. Brown from the Eagles.

While Maye and Brown struggled to connect on the first few days of camp prior to full pads coming on, their chemistry has taken a significant leap since then. While Doubs' camp has not been at the same level as Brown's, he has shown some flashes, including an over-the-head catch on Christian Gonzalez on Monday.

.@DrakeMaye2 to Romeo art 🎨🖼️ pic.twitter.com/cabmp7sAeW
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 10, 2026

In a competitive practice with a new team coming into town, can Maye's momentum with Brown and Doubs continue to build, or will the Colts' defensive backs give the Patriots' newest offensive weapons a reality check?

Can Patriots Linebackers Stop Jonathan Taylor?

Indianapolis has one of the league's best running backs in Jonathan Taylor, whom was recently rewarded with a two-year $44 million contract extension. The three-time Pro Bowler led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (18) last season, while tacking on just under 2,000 all purpose yards.

Throughout training camp, New England has experimented with three linebacker sets which puts Chad Muma in with starters Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss. While Muma was a key defensive contributor at the beginning of his career with the Jaguars, he spent last year primarily as a specialist with the Colts and Patriots.

Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots safety Dell Pettus (24) and New England Patriots linebacker Chad Muma (49) react after a play during the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Now slated to have a significant role in Zak Kuhr's defense, how comfortable will Muma look on Tuesday against one of the NFL's best rushing offenses?

On a similar note, undrafted free agent Khalil Jacobs seems to currently control the Patriots' fourth linebacker spot. If he plays any snaps against Indianapolis' starters, keep an eye out on how comfortable the 22-year-old looks out on the field.

Battles In The Trenches

While the Patriots' defensive line has gotten the better of the offense in camp, Tuesday will provide a true benchmark of where the two sides stand.

The Colts' offensive line, headlined by six-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, tied for the seventh-fewest sacks allowed in the NFL last season with 29. For perspective, the Patriots' 48 sacks allowed was tied for the ninth-most.

With Indianapolis coming to town, New England's front four -- headlined by Milton Williams and Christian Barmore -- get a worthy challenger to compete in a good-on-good matchup.

Jul 28, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots defensive end Milton Williams (97) walks to practice for training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

On the other side, the Colts' defensive line should provide a similar challenge for the Patriots' offense. Veterans DeForest Buckner, Arden Key and Grover Stewart, plus 2024 first-round pick Laiatu Latu, have each solidified themselves as key contributors in the NFL.

On both sides of the ball, if the Patriots are able to hold their own in the trenches against an impressive Colts team, it could be a sign of a bright 2026 season in New England.

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