Drake Maye’s Shoulder Injury Looms Large as Patriots Enter Offseason
As the Patriots begin to turn the page on a season that brought them all the way to Super Bowl 60, one storyline refuses to fade: Drake Maye’s shoulder. The second-year quarterback, who had been the engine behind New England’s resurgence, didn’t look quite right in the 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks-and now we know why.
Maye injured his shoulder on a scramble during the second half of the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos. Leading up to the Super Bowl, the team and Maye downplayed the issue. But once the game kicked off in Las Vegas, it became clear this wasn’t just a routine knock.
Maye finished the game 27-of-43 for 295 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. On paper, that stat line doesn’t scream disaster.
But the eye test told a different story. His velocity was off, his timing was shaky, and the crispness that defined his breakout season just wasn’t there.
And then came the moment that sealed it.
With the Patriots trying to claw their way back in the fourth quarter, Maye rolled out and tried to hit rookie wideout Kyle Williams on a crossing route. Instead, the ball floated-wobbly, underthrown, and behind the receiver-right into the waiting arms of Seahawks safety Julian Love.
Game over. And it wasn’t just a turnover-it was a visual confirmation that something was physically wrong.
NBC’s Cris Collinsworth summed it up bluntly on the broadcast: “I’ve got nothing for you here.”
A Season to Remember, a Finish to Forget
It’s a tough way to end what had been a phenomenal sophomore campaign for Maye. He led the league in completion percentage (72.0%), yards per attempt (8.9), and air yards per attempt (9.46).
He threw for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and just eight picks while starting all 17 regular season games. Simply put, Maye looked like the real deal-and the Patriots finally looked like they had their next franchise quarterback.
But in the biggest game of the year, with the lights brightest and the stakes highest, Maye’s shoulder betrayed him. His average yards per attempt dropped to 6.9, a notable dip for a quarterback who thrived pushing the ball downfield all season.
It wasn’t just the numbers-it was how the ball came out of his hand. Passes that once zipped now fluttered.
Throws that once hit receivers in stride were suddenly late or off-target.
After the game, Maye acknowledged that the team had to “shoot up” his shoulder just so he could play. He insisted the injury didn’t affect him, but the tape tells a different story. And now, the question becomes: how serious is it?
Offseason Outlook: Wait and See
There’s no official word yet on whether Maye will need surgery, but that possibility is now on the table. Even if he avoids a major procedure, any lingering issues could impact his availability for OTAs, minicamp, or even training camp. That’s not ideal for a young quarterback entering Year 3-especially one looking to build on the kind of season that puts you in MVP conversations.
The good news? If Maye was able to suit up for the Super Bowl, it’s a strong sign that this isn’t a long-term concern.
But in the NFL, even minor injuries can snowball if not properly addressed. For a Patriots team that just re-established itself as a contender, protecting their quarterback-and making sure he’s 100% come Week 1-has to be priority number one.
Bottom Line
Drake Maye gave everything he had to get the Patriots to the Super Bowl. But in the end, his shoulder couldn’t hold up under the weight of the moment. Whether it’s a minor setback or something more serious, this is now the biggest storyline of New England’s offseason.
For a franchise that finally found its quarterback, the next few weeks will be all about making sure they don’t lose him-at least not to injury.