It will be interesting to see if Patriots QB Mac Jones and other regulars see any playing time in Saturday night's second preseason game at Green Bay after a few days of joint practices with the Packers in Wisconsin. (AP photo)

The New England Patriots finally got to go up against someone other than themselves the other night when they opened the preseason vs. the Houston Texans.

And now they get to practice against another team, as they’re in Wisconsin for a few days of joint practices with the Green Bay Packers leading up to Saturday night’s preseason game at Lambeau Field.

The benefits?

“Well, we get to look at somebody else, different players, different scheme, and learn from that,” Belichick said the other day.

Joint practices seem to be the rule rather than the exception in NFL summers these days, but Belichick says that’s nothing new.

“They’re opportunities,” Belichick said. “We’ve been doing this since the 80’s. I remember we came out and practiced against the Patriots when I was with the Giants. We did it at Cleveland, so there’s definitely some advantages to working against another team if it’s cooperative and you feel like it’s productive.”

The feeling usually is that NFL coaches put more stock into these practices with other teams than preseason games. So it’s possible regulars could sit out Saturday night if they get extensive time vs. the Packers in a practice setting.

Belichick repeated the formula:

“The guys that practice the most play the least,” he said, “and the guys that don’t practice the most get to play.”

WORD IS ELLIOTT HEADED TO GREEN BAY

Running back Ezekiel Elliott, who agreed to a one-year deal with the Patriots on Monday, was expected to be in Foxborough Tuesday to sign his deal and then fly out to Green Bay with the team. It’s possible he’ll participate in today’s joint practices, acccording to the NFL Network.

JONES HEARING MOVED

The probable cause hearing in the weapons case of Patriots cornerback Jack Jones, originally scheduled for Aug. 18, was moved to Sept. 15. That certainly gives Jones the opportunity to play in the season opener on Sept. 10 vs. Philadelphia at Gillette Stadium. Jones saw action in this past Thursday’s preseason opener vs. Houston.

GESICKI HURT

The Patriots suffered a loss on Monday with an injury to tight end Mike Gisecki that reports say is dislocated shoulder.

It may be mild, but according to the NFL Network, it will unofficially keep Gisecki out until at least Week One of the regular season.

Gisecki signed a one-year, $9 million deal in the off-season and is expected to form a formidable one-two combo with fellow tight end Hunter Henry, who has been a favorite target of quarterback Mac Jones. He was by all reports having a good training camp.

There are four other tight ends on the roster: Anthony Firkser, Matt Sokol, Johnny Lumpkin and Scotty Washington. Washington was listed ahead of the other three on the unofficial depth chart provided the media prior to the preseason opener vs. the Texans.

PATRIOTS SIGN LINEBACKER

New England Tuesday announced the signing of former XFLer Carson Wells, who came into the NFL as a rookie free agent a couple of years ago with Cincinnati. The 6-3, 250 pounder played with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL in 2022, starting eight of his 10 games with 45 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

The team also released long snapper Tucker Addington and DL DaMarcus Mitchell.