FOXBORO — Was this a glimpse at the future?

Or a band-aid for today?

Two days after Drake Maye saw extra snaps with multiple starting offensive linemen in the Patriots’ preseason loss to the Eagles, he took his first practice reps behind starting linemen all summer.

Moments after the first-team offensive line blocked for Jacoby Brissett, Maye finished Saturday’s practice with that group during a half-speed two-minute drill. That period capped a light, non-padded workout lasting 90 minutes with multiple offensive linemen sitting out. Veteran offensive tackle Calvin Anderson, a regular with Maye’s second-team offense, did not participate, and neither did backup center/guard Nick Leverett.

Earlier in practice, the Patriots also rotated two rookies — Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson — into Brissett’s starting line and pulled right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor and left guard Sidy Sow. Those moves hardly seemed motivated by injury, the reason right guard Mike Onwenu cited post-game when asked about the changes.

Oh, and Onwenu took snaps at right tackle for the first time in training camp, kicking out from guard in two periods with Maye’s second-team offense. So what does this mean for Maye?

Through 15 practices, the rookie has yet to take any reps with the starting unit, indicating Brissett remains the heavy favorite to win their competition; especially considering he’s out-performed Maye in most of those workouts. But coming off a strong preseason performance, Maye, in a non-padded practice, received better protection and turned in a tidy 11-of-13 performance in team drills.

Coincidence?

Elsewhere at practice, the defense began to replace Matt Judon, Joe Milton threw a tip-drill interception, one rookie receiver received a promotion and two defensive backs returned to action.

Here are the Herald’s complete practice observations:

Returned: CB Jonathan Jones, CB Marcus Jones

Injured: TE Austin Hooper

Absent: TE Hunter Henry, OLB Josh Uche, C Nick Leverett, OT Calvin Anderson, S Marte Mapu, WR JaQuae Jackson, OLB Oshane Ximines, DL Christian Barmore

Limited: CB Shaun Wade

PUP: WR Kendrick Bourne, LB Sione Takitaki, OL Cole Strange

Notes: Jonathan Jones returned to practice for the first time in almost two weeks, while Marcus Jones participated for the first time in nearly three. Both defensive backs were active for team periods, but did not rotate with the rest of their secondary mates. Hooper left practice shortly after missing a pass in 7-on-7s and was spotted walking off the field by ESPN.

Henry sat out a third straight practice, but appeared on the field for the first time since then and watched in street clothes. Uche, Leverett, Anderson, Jackson and Ximines were all newly absent after playing in Thursday’s preseason game against the Eagles. Jackson was carted off with a lower-body injury.

Maye-to-Harris down the sideline

Who?!

That’s right, the Patriots’ bowling ball of a third-string running back, at 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds, caught a pinpoint 30-yard pass from Drake Maye in 7-on-7s. Harris beat backup inside linebacker Christian Elliss down the right sideline on a wheel route for one of his most impressive reps as a receiver this summer.

WR Ja’Lynn Polk

Polk gets the nod here over Maye — more on him later — and fellow receiver K.J. Osborn, who also caught all of his targets for a team-high three receptions. Why the nod?

He got a promotion. Polk opened with the starting offense in 11-on-11s and 7-on-7s for the first time all camp. The second-round rookie has led the Patriots in catches for a good while now, and his hard work is now finally being rewarded.

Note: The passing stats below were tallied during competitive 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 periods only. The stats in parentheses represent the quarterbacks’ camp-long performance.

Jacoby Brissett: 9/13, sack (146-of-221 — 66.8%, 6 INTs, 22 sacks)

Drake Maye: 11/13, sack (125-of-203 — 60%, 5 INTs, 19 sacks)

Notes: A quality day for both quarterbacks.

Maye’s comfort in the offense has clearly grown over the past week, as evidenced not only by his completion percentage but his decisiveness in the pocket and greater willingness to attack downfield. After his deep connection with Harris, Maye’s best throw was a post-corner pass to K.J. Osborn in stride during 11-on-11s. Maye later recorded his daily rep of indecision, cocking his arm to throw only to bring back it down in team drills, which can invite pressure and possibly trouble.

But largely, Maye was in control and in rhythm Saturday; hitting seven different receivers and building on the progress he’s shown in the aforementioned areas. He also completed back-to-back passes to Ja’Lynn Polk in a late 11-on-11 period. His only incompletions were a scramble-drill pass batted away by Alex Austin and missed connection with Kayshon Boutte.

Brissett took all of the starting reps once again, and opened with a 2-of-4 showing in a full-team period. He found Rhamondre Stevenson in the flat and Kayshon Boutte on a crossing route, around a deep underthrow of Tyquan Thornton and misfire to Boutte. Brissett followed that with a 3-of-4 period during 7-on-7s, completing three passes on in-breaking routes and missing tight end Austin Hooper down the seam.

Later, he connected with Thornton in the flat, Douglas on a screen, took a sack and layered a throw to tight end Mitchell Wilcox on a deep cross. His day ended with an overthrow of Stevenson in the flat and safe, over-the-middle toss to Douglas.

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