Drake Maye, Patriots coaches downplay shoulder injury ahead of Super Bowl LX

Zack Cox, Boston Herald on Feb 2, 2026

Published in Football

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SAN JOSE, Calif. — Drake Maye and his New England Patriots coaches don’t expect his injured throwing shoulder to limit him in Super Bowl LX.

The New England quarterback returned to practice Monday at Stanford University after sitting out last Friday’s session with an illness, along with his shoulder issue. The Patriots were not required to release an injury report after practice, but Maye said he threw a standard allotment of passes.

“I threw a good bit,” Maye said at Super Bowl Opening Night. “I threw as much as I would in a normal practice, and I felt great. I’m looking forward to getting back out there on Wednesday and Thursday for practice again, and Friday, and get ready to get a normal week of prep.”

He added: “I’m feeling good. I’ll be just fine.”

Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant both downplayed the injury, which Maye suffered during the Patriots’ 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game last Sunday.

“I have no concerns,” Grant said.

Asked whether he expects any limitations for his second-year QB, McDaniels replied: “Nope.”

Head coach Mike Vrabel “thought that the ball came out good” during practice.

“I thought it was a crisp practice for Drake and for everybody else,” Vrabel said.

Maye said the extended break between championship weekend and Super Bowl Sunday did him well.

“I turned a corner landing on the flight (to San Francisco on Sunday),” he said. “I felt good from the flight, and throwing out there today, I think it turned the corner, and I really had no doubt being 100% for the game. This is the Super Bowl. We get two weeks to prepare for it and do whatever we’ve got to do to get it right. I’ve got confidence and feel good.”

Even if Maye is fully healthy by Super Bowl Sunday, he’ll face a stiff challenge against the Seattle Seahawks’ elite defense. An MVP-caliber passer during the regular season, the second-year pro has seen his numbers dip this postseason against a trio of stingy defensive opponents (Texans, Chargers and Broncos).

Maye has completed 55.8% of his passes with five turnovers and an 84.0 passer rating during his first NFL playoff run. During the regular season, he led the NFL in both completion percentage (72.0%) and passer rating (113.5), throwing 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 17 games.

“Knowing that we get a chance and opportunity to play another great defense — I feel like this is going to be our fourth (of the playoffs),” Maye said. “And Coach McDaniels warned us: the longer you play in the playoffs, the better these teams get. The Seahawks, what a defense they have. They’re well-coached, they play hard, they run to the football. Just knowing that (I need to be) protecting the football, and at some point, try to hit the plays when they’re there. Knowing that when you have a chance to hit those plays, you’ve got to hit them, and that’s what playoff football’s about.”

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