The New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts open their 2026 preseason Thursday night at Gillette Stadium, with the matchup coming just two days after the teams held a joint practice in Foxborough.
Sep 7, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (5) warms up before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
How to Watch Colts vs Patriots
- When: Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026
- Time: 7:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: WXIN, WBZ
- Live Stream: Fubo (try for free)
New England will take a cautious approach with quarterback Drake Maye, who is not expected to play in the preseason opener. Maye is coming off a breakout 2025 season in which he helped lead the Patriots to a 14-3 record and a trip to Super Bowl LX, making his health far more important than getting exhibition snaps. With Maye sitting, Thursday night should provide an extended opportunity for New England’s backup quarterbacks and younger players fighting for roster spots as Mike Vrabel begins his second season as head coach.
– Live stream Colts vs Patriots with Fubo –
Indianapolis will also hold Daniel Jones out, but Anthony Richardson is scheduled to start at quarterback. Richardson enters a significant season after the Colts declined his fifth-year option, and the preseason gives him an opportunity to make his case for a larger role. With Jones and Maye both watching from the sidelines, Richardson becomes one of the biggest names to watch as Indianapolis evaluates its quarterback depth and several other roster competitions in its first game action of the year.
This is a great NFL football matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
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