With just one game left in the season, now’s not the time to be slowed by an injury.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye downplayed a potential right shoulder injury coming out of New England’s 10-7 AFC Championship win over the Broncos on Sunday while he prepares for Super Bowl 2026.
He avoided stating whether he may be limited in the buildup to the biggest game of his young career.
“I’m feeling good. We’re going to get some extra rest,” Maye said Tuesday on WEEI about a potential injury. “Really, I don’t think it’s from the game. I think just the build-up of throwing for almost, including training camp, 30 weeks straight of throwing and four days a week, it can add up. But I think we’ve got some extra rest and feeling good and ready to go for the Super Bowl.”
There will always be gamesmanship involved at this point of the year, but Maye’s status is certainly one to keep an eye on before he faces the Seahawks on Feb. 8.
Maye grabbed his right shoulder in the third quarter after being tackled hard to the ground in the third quarter, though he did not miss any time during the game.
“Some bumps and bruises, but, hey, that’s what it takes,” Maye said after the game. “I think a lot of those guys in the locker room are battling through things. At the same time, the best thing about it is another chance at it, another chance to get healthy, two weeks…”
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel danced around the possibility of Maye being injured during a radio hit Tuesday.
“There’s not a player on our team that’s 100 percent healthy,” Vrabel said on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” after being asked about internet speculation on Maye’s status.
He added: “I would imagine we’ll go through the injury report and whenever we have to turn that in, we’ll turn it in. But nobody’s 100 percent. This’ll be our 21st game.”
If Maye is dealing with anything beyond soreness, he has an extra week to get ready before attempting to lead the Patriots to their seventh Super Bowl win and first without Tom Brady.
The second-year quarterback has not passed well this postseason after a sensational regular season that may earn him NFL MVP honors.
Maye has completed just 43 of 77 passes (55.8 percent) for 533 yards with four passing touchdowns to two interceptions.
He’s fumbled six times and lost three, while also taking 15 sacks.
The Seahawks are 4.5-point favorites at FanDuel over Maye’s squad.
“Looking forward to getting out there and prepping for the Seahawks,” Maye said, “and prepping to get ready to go.”
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