The Patriots kick off the 2018 season with pre-season game number one against the visiting Washington Redskins.

The first pre-season game of is primarily for third stringers, rookies and camp invitees. It is an opportunity for them to show what they can do as they compete to make the team.

Here are five things I will be watching for tonight.

1. Brady Will Not Play: Reports surfaced earlier today that quarterback Tom Brady wasn’t expected to play tonight. He shouldn’t. It is a meaningless pre-season. Brady should play next week and in the third pre-season game. There is no reason for him to play tonight or in the final pre-season game.

2. Formulate a Running Back Rotation: The Patriots will have some tough decisions to make at the running back position when it is time to make cuts. That is why it is imperative for running backs coach Ivan Fears to formulate a running back rotation where he can give equal reps and evaluate his running backs. Mike Gillislee and Jeremy Hill tonight will get plenty of carries tonight.

3. See if McCarron, Turner and Lucien Can Make Plays: The Patriots are really thin at wide receiver so this pre-season game will give the offensive coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate receivers such as Riley McCarron, Paul Turner and Devin Lucien. Cordarrelle Patterson, Chris Hogan, Kenny Britt and Braxton Berrios are penciled in. I think. You never know with Belichick. If the Patriots were playing on a carrying a fifth receiver to start the season, it would come from this group.

4. Cornerback Competition: Stephon Gilmore and Jason McCourty are presumably the two starting corners but the competition for the nickel and dime spots is wide open. Rookie Duke Dawson will compete against veterans Jonathan Jones, Cyrus Jones and Eric Rowe for the two sub package spots.

5. First Look At the New Look D: DeFacto defensive coordinator Brian Flores will coordinate his first game tonight officially. Flores has coordinated in the pre-season in the past but this is now his defense. It will be interesting to see if Flores give us a little bit of a glimpse of some of the scheme changes he will be making this season.

The pre-season is all about finding depth and that diamond in the rough, especially the first two pre-season games. The Patriots are going to give guys they have liked at practice extended playing time tonight. You never who will emerge and make a statement.