Drake Maye Says He's "Feeling Great" Ahead of Super Bowl LX Clash with Seahawks
Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye took center stage during Super Bowl Opening Night on Monday, fielding a flurry of questions from reporters, with his health status front and center. After a week that saw him limited in practice due to a right shoulder issue and sidelined by illness, all eyes were on how the young signal-caller was holding up ahead of the biggest game of his career.
Maye didn’t flinch.
“I’ll be just fine,” he said, flashing the kind of calm confidence you want from your quarterback the week of the Super Bowl. “I threw a good bit. I threw as much as I would at a normal practice.”
That’s a welcome update for Patriots fans, especially considering the team listed Maye as questionable over the weekend-hypothetically, of course, since there was no game to be played. Still, it was enough to raise eyebrows.
A shoulder injury is one thing. Add in an illness that kept him out of Friday’s session, and suddenly the question marks start to pile up.
But Maye put those concerns to rest with his performance in Monday’s practice, and more importantly, with how he felt afterward.
“I felt great,” he said. “Looking forward to getting back out there Wednesday and Thursday for practice again. And Friday, get ready to get a normal week of prep.”
That’s exactly what the Patriots want to hear as they head into Super Bowl week against a tough Seahawks squad. Maye’s arm strength and pocket presence have been key to New England’s postseason run, and having him at full strength is critical if they want to hoist the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday.
The first official injury report of Super Bowl week drops Wednesday, and all signs point to Maye being a full participant. If that holds, it’s a major boost for a Patriots offense that’s going to need every bit of firepower it can muster.
Bottom line: Maye looks ready. And if his body holds up the way his confidence suggests it will, the Patriots could be in very good hands come Sunday.