Drake Maye’s rookie season has already defied expectations. Now, just days away from the biggest game of his life, the Patriots’ quarterback finds himself battling not one, but two obstacles - and the timing couldn’t be worse.
Let’s rewind for a second. This is a New England team that finished 4-13 a year ago, widely regarded as having one of the weakest rosters in the league.
When they took Maye with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the assumption was that this would be a long-term rebuild. Few expected the Patriots to be playing into February just a season later - let alone with a shot at the Lombardi Trophy.
Yet here they are. And Maye, the former North Carolina star, is a big reason why.
But now, with the Super Bowl looming, Maye’s status is suddenly in question. The 23-year-old injured his throwing shoulder in the AFC Championship win over the Denver Broncos - a gritty, low-scoring 10-7 slugfest where Maye’s legs made the difference more than his arm.
He completed just 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards, but also ran for 65 yards and the team’s only touchdown. It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough.
Now, the concern isn’t just the shoulder. Maye also missed Friday’s practice due to illness - the first time all season he’s been sidelined for a session.
“We've had a lot of guys over the last month, six weeks here, with illness,” head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters. “So, again, just trying to do what's best for the player and the team. I'm trying to take care of guys - don't spread anything.”
Vrabel’s comments suggest the missed practice was more about keeping the illness contained than the shoulder injury itself. Still, the timing is less than ideal. Maye is facing a tough Seattle Seahawks defense on the biggest stage in football, and now he’s doing it while nursing a sore shoulder and trying to shake off whatever bug is going around the Patriots’ locker room.
And that raises the question: Can he be the same quarterback we saw during the regular season?
Because during the regular season, Maye was lights out. He threw for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions.
He completed 72 percent of his passes and led the league with a 113.5 passer rating. Those are elite numbers by any standard - let alone for a rookie.
The Huntersville, North Carolina native spent three seasons at UNC, where he built a reputation as one of college football’s most polished passers. That polish has translated quickly to the pros, and it’s been impressive to watch how quickly he’s adapted to the speed and complexity of the NFL game.
But now, with the Super Bowl on deck, Maye’s health is the biggest storyline in Foxborough. If he’s close to 100 percent, the Patriots have a real shot. If not, it could be a long day against a Seahawks defense that thrives on pressuring quarterbacks and forcing mistakes.
One thing’s for sure: Maye’s poise has been tested all season long, and he’s passed every challenge so far. Whether he can rise to this moment - banged up, under the weather, and facing a ferocious defense - will go a long way in determining whether the Patriots complete one of the most improbable turnarounds in recent memory.
We’ll find out soon enough.