FOXBORO — Sometimes life as a rookie third-string quarterback is difficult.
Patriots undrafted rookie QB Ben Wooldridge didn’t get any competitive reps during the team’s two joint practices with the Commanders and Vikings, conceding those to Drake Maye and Joshua Dobbs, and then was thrust into action to play the second half in Saturday’s preseason games.
So, how does Wooldridge prepare for a game without making any throws?
“It’s just being able to get a rep while you’re maybe not in there physically getting the rep. Doing the mental rep behind where it’s going through the footwork, throwing the ball, but I’m actually not throwing the ball. And then you get a rep like that. So that’s one rep, and then you go into the meeting, you get another rep where we’re going through the corrections, going through the practice film. So there’s two reps that I wasn’t scheduled to have but I got. So that’s kind of how I go about it. And the compound effect is little things day by day possibly adding up to big things. Hopefully it does.”
Wooldridge says he also gets to the Patriots’ facility early to talk to quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant and goes over the playbook with veterans who know the system like wide receiver Mack Hollins.
Wooldridge is 16-of-25 for 187 yards with a touchdown through two preseason games. He’ll likely see extensive work in the third and final preseason game in his final push to make the Patriots’ 53-man roster. Cuts will take place Aug. 26.
Originally Published: August 18, 2025 at 1:58 PM EDT