Hours before the New England Patriots’ victory Thursday night, practice squad quarterback Danny Etling crouched at the 50-yard line of the Gillette Stadium game field with his eyes fixated on the Indianapolis Colts.

Etling stood a few feet away from Patriots football research director, and mystery man, Ernie Adams, and the two watched the Colts go through warmups. At one point, Etling intently watched Colts backup quarterback, and former Patriots draft pick, Jacoby Brissett. Adams has been known to watch the opposing team in pregame warmups to look for tells.

But what was Etling watching for? And why has a rookie practice squad quarterback been traveling with the Patriots to road games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions?

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