New England Patriots
“Right now I’m feeling good and looking forward to getting out there and preparing for the Seahawks and prepping to get ready to go.”
As Drake Maye and the Patriots begin their prep work for Super Bowl LX, the 23-year-old quarterback’s health has now become an early storyline before the team makes the trek to Santa Clara this weekend.
Several doctors on social media — including former Chargers team doctor David Chao — noted over the weekend that Maye might have injured his shoulder during Sunday’s victory over the Broncos in the AFC championship game.
Speaking during his weekly appearance on “WEEI Afternoons” on Tuesday, Maye downplayed talk of being hindered by any sort of physical ailment.
“I’m feeling good. We’ve got some extra rest. I don’t think it’s from the game. I think it’s just the buildup of throwing, including training camp, 30 weeks straight of throwing and four days a week. It can add up,” Maye said. “But I got some extra rest and I’m feeling good and ready to go for the Super Bowl.”
While Maye brushed aside any discourse regarding his shoulder, he was candid when asked if he might be limited during practices over these next two weeks — be it at Foxborough or in California.
“I think it’s too early to say,” Maye said of his practice status ahead of a Feb. 8 showdown with the Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium.
“Right now I’m feeling good and looking forward to getting out there and preparing for the Seahawks and prepping to get ready to go,” he added.
Maye and the Patriots’ passing game labored on Sunday in Denver, with the MVP candidate completing 10-of-21 throws for 86 yards.
He still avoided any turnovers and used his legs (65 rushing yards) to both score New England’s lone touchdown and ice the game in the fourth quarter with a 3rd-and-6 scamper.
But, if the Patriots want to close out its improbable turnaround season with a Lombardi Trophy, it’s going to need more from an offense that is averaging just 18.0 points per game this postseason.
According to Chao, Maye appeared to hurt his shoulder in the third quarter of Sunday’s win at Empower Field at Mile High after being tackled by Denver linebacker Talanoa Hufanga.
Maye slammed his right shoulder in the ground at the end of the play and was spotted rotating his shoulder and adjusting his shoulder pads after getting off the gridiron.
Two plays later, Maye completed one of New England’s most explosive plays on an otherwise quiet evening for the offense — connecting with Mack Hollins on a 31-yard gain off a flea flicker.
Maye also didn’t seem worse for wear in the fourth quarter — stiff-arming Jonah Ellis on the seven-year run that moved the chains and allowed New England to run out the clock.
Speaking on WEEI Tuesday morning, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that none of New England’s players — Maye included — were completely healthy at this stage of the NFL calendar.
During a press conference with the media later that morning, Vrabel was again asked if Maye is healthy in the lead-up to Super Bowl LX.
“No, I wouldn’t say that anybody hurt anything,” Vrabel said. “Again, this is a sport where there’s going to be things that come up.
“We’ll talk about whatever status each player has for the game once we’re required to, we understand that, but we were able to function offensively, throw the football, run the football, so that’s kind of where everybody is at.”
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