Drake Maye’s Shoulder Under Scrutiny Ahead of Super Bowl Showdown
As the New England Patriots prepare for their Super Bowl clash with the Seattle Seahawks, all eyes are on rookie quarterback Drake Maye-and more specifically, his right (throwing) shoulder.
Concerns began swirling after a viral video surfaced, featuring former Chargers team doctor David Chao, who suggested that Maye suffered a shoulder injury during the third quarter of New England’s gritty 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos. In a game defined by snow, defense, and field position, Maye’s arm didn’t do much talking-but his legs certainly did.
Chao’s post raised eyebrows: “Drake Maye injured his right throwing shoulder against the Broncos. How severe the injury is, and the exact diagnosis, remains to be determined. Heading into Super Bowl LX, I’m far more concerned about Maye’s shoulder than Sam Darnold’s oblique.”
That’s a bold statement, especially considering what’s at stake. But in response, Patriots insider Greg A.
Bedard reported that the team doesn’t believe Maye’s shoulder is going to be a problem. His update, shared on social media, downplayed the severity: “The information that I have at this moment is that any Maye ‘injury’ to his throwing shoulder is not believed to be an issue.”
That wording-“not believed to be an issue”-is doing a lot of work. It doesn’t exactly slam the door on the idea that something happened. It’s more of a “nothing to see here… probably,” which will keep fans and analysts alike glued to the upcoming injury reports.
For now, there’s no confirmation of a significant injury, and that’s the best news Patriots fans can hope for. But with the biggest game of the season less than two weeks away, even a whisper of a shoulder issue for your rookie quarterback is enough to trigger flashbacks of past Super Bowl drama.
Maye’s performance in Denver wasn’t flashy-10-of-21 passing for 86 yards-but the conditions were brutal. Snow fell steadily throughout the second half at Mile High, and throwing the football became an uphill battle. Still, Maye found a way to impact the game, using his legs to rush for 65 yards and the Patriots’ only touchdown.
That dual-threat ability has been a hallmark of Maye’s rookie campaign. He’s shown poise beyond his years, and while the numbers don’t always pop off the page, his ability to extend plays and make something out of nothing has been a difference-maker for this Patriots team.
Now, the question becomes: Can he do it on the biggest stage, possibly while nursing a sore shoulder?
The first official injury report will provide some clarity, but until then, this storyline isn’t going anywhere. The Patriots are leaning on a 21-year-old quarterback to lead them into Super Bowl LX, and any hint of physical limitation is going to be magnified.
For now, the message from New England is cautiously optimistic. And if Maye is healthy enough to play his game, the Patriots have every reason to believe he can rise to the moment-just like he has all season.