Patriots prepare for 2026 season with Seahawks opener and new RB3 Lan Larison

The New England Patriots will open the 2026 NFL season in the league‑wide kickoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, revisiting the Super Bowl 60 matchup in which Seattle defeated New England 29‑13. Quarterback Drake Maye said the early test provides extra motivation, noting, “Starting off with the bang like that, a chance to get an opponent that left a bad taste in our mouth.” He has been reviewing tape from the loss to improve his play.

During the first day of organized team activities, undrafted free agent running back Lan Larison was identified as the clear‑cut third‑string RB behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. Reports highlighted Larison’s emergence after returning from a season‑ending foot injury, positioning him to compete for touches against other backs such as seventh‑round draft pick Jam Miller and rookie Myles Montgomery.