New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel had a ready response when asked about quarterback Drake Maye and the rest of the starters playing in the preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns next week.
The response wasn't what most expected.
"I don't think we have a very deep team, Mike. So I think we have to make sure that we're preparing our football team and that we're doing everything we can to keep our best players available," Vrabel said in a response to a question from ESPN's Mike Reiss.
The Patriots have dealt with a slew of injuries in recent weeks, including cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who hasn't participated in practice since last Monday. In last week's preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts, the Patriots lost offensive guards Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich.
On Saturday, offensive tackle Marcus Bryant, who has been productive in training camp, injured his ankle against the Philadelphia Eagles and was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game. Linebacker Chad Muma was also seen leaving the field early with an injury.
The Patriots still have time to lick their wounds before their regular season opener in a Super Bowl LX rematch against the Seattle Seahawks on September 9.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Mike Vrabel's brutally honest reason for Patriots starters not playing
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