Drake Maye Misses Practice Due to Injury and Illness
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was absent from practice on Friday due to a shoulder injury and illness. This news comes just nine days before the Super Bowl, raising concerns about his health. He participated in practice on a limited basis the day before.
Maye, 23, appeared to sustain the shoulder injury during a scramble when he was hit, which resulted in him grabbing his right shoulder after the third quarter in a close game against the Denver Broncos that ended 10-7 in favor of the Patriots. He expressed his determination to return to full health, stating he would do everything necessary to be ready.
“I’m going to do whatever I can to get back to 100 percent, and I think a lot of guys in that locker room would say the same thing,” he mentioned during a press conference on Thursday. He added that the two weeks leading up to the game would provide him with good time to rest and familiarize himself with their upcoming opponents, the Seahawks.
Reflecting on his throwing ability, Maye conveyed confidence, indicating that he doesn’t anticipate any significant issues. “No, I don’t think so. That’s why we put in the time. That’s why we have trainers. It’s a long season, so I think sometimes things just show up,” he explained. Nevertheless, he is committed to doing whatever it takes to help his team win.
Maye did some throwing drills on Thursday and was able to jog a bit. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel mentioned that there isn’t a significant level of concern regarding Maye’s condition.
Maye’s regular season was strong, but his playoff performance fell short of expectations despite reaching the Super Bowl. His postseason statistics reflected a drop-off; he completed only 55.8 percent of his passes for 533 yards, with four touchdowns and two interceptions, and faced 15 sacks.
Despite these challenges, he did show his ability as a dynamic player on the ground, throwing for 141 yards and scoring a touchdown in three games, contributing all the points the Patriots managed in the AFC Championship. With the Seahawks’ defense being one of the toughest in the league this season, allowing just 17.1 points per game, the Patriots will rely heavily on Maye to perform at his best in the upcoming Super Bowl.
