The New England Patriots are back in the Super Bowl - their 10th trip this century - after grinding out a gritty 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in a snow-covered AFC Championship slugfest. But as the confetti settled in Denver, the celebration in Foxborough quickly gave way to concern. The focus shifted from a lightning-fast rebuild to the health of the team’s quarterback, Drake Maye, with Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks looming.
Maye, the second-year signal caller who’s been at the heart of New England’s resurgence, is now at the center of a growing conversation about a potential injury to his throwing shoulder. The concern sparked after a post from a prominent football injury analyst suggested Maye sustained damage during Sunday’s game.
“There is no question in my mind that Drake Maye injured his right throwing shoulder against the Denver Broncos,” the analyst said, pointing to video evidence and in-game behavior as indicators. The extent of the injury?
Still unclear. But the speculation alone has Patriots fans holding their breath.
Head coach Mike Vrabel, speaking Tuesday on WEEI, didn’t offer much clarity - but he did try to cool the temperature.
“There’s not a player on our team that’s 100% healthy,” Vrabel said. “This will be our 21st game. We’ll go through the injury report like we always do.”
Later, during his media availability, Vrabel pushed back on the idea that Maye was significantly hurt, saying the situation was “probably” being blown out of proportion.
“I wouldn’t say anybody hurt anything,” Vrabel said. “This is a sport where there’s gonna 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.
We were able to function offensively, throw the football, run the football - so that’s kinda where everybody’s at.”
The play in question came in the third quarter, when Maye scrambled for 13 yards and slid to the ground, only to be tackled by Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga. Maye landed hard on his right shoulder - his throwing shoulder - and was seen grabbing it immediately after the play. That moment, captured on video, has since been dissected frame by frame across social media.
Still, just two plays later, Maye uncorked a 31-yard strike to Mack Hollins on a flea-flicker - a throw that didn’t look like it came from a quarterback in pain. That pass, in particular, has been used by some to argue that if Maye’s shoulder is banged up, it’s not affecting his mechanics in a meaningful way.
And then there was the game-sealing play - a gutsy naked bootleg on third-and-5 where Maye kept the ball himself, stiff-armed a defender with his throwing hand, and picked up seven yards to ice the win. That’s not the kind of call - or execution - you typically see from a quarterback nursing a serious shoulder issue.
After the game, Maye downplayed any injury talk, admitting only to the usual wear and tear that comes with a long season.
“I think a lot of those guys in that locker room are battling through things,” Maye said. “At the same time, the best thing about it is we have another chance at it.
Another chance to get healthy. Two weeks - a chance to go win the Super Bowl.
That’s what it is, and that’s pretty cool.”
So what’s the truth? It might lie somewhere in the middle.
Maye was sacked five times and took a handful of other hits in a physical, low-scoring game. It’s entirely possible he’s sore - maybe even dealing with a minor tweak - but the Patriots’ offense didn’t grind to a halt.
If anything, their conservative approach seemed more influenced by the snow, game script, and confidence in their defense than by any limitations from their quarterback.
New England’s first official injury report drops on Wednesday, and you can bet Maye’s name will be the first one everyone looks for. Until then, the Patriots - and their fans - are holding onto the hope that their young quarterback will be ready to go when they take the field in Las Vegas.
Because with the Seahawks on deck and a Lombardi Trophy within reach, the Patriots are going to need every ounce of Maye’s arm - and toughness - to finish the job.