Drake Maye has a shoulder injury. It is a real thing!
The New England Patriots do not seem too concerned about their starting quarterback and his status for the Super Bowl but we can no longer pretend the injury does not exist.
Not only was Maye listed on the official NFL injury report on the first day of practice, the team is shielding him from the media. Maybe the slight discomfort in his shoulder really is much ado about nothing. Perhaps it is something bigger than they are leading on. We’ll see.
Drake Maye hurt his shoulder against the Denver Broncos.
Believe it or not, this idea was first introduced by Dr. David J. Chao. Although he may not be the most reliable voice in the media when it comes to injuries, he has more than 17 years of experience as a team doctor in the NFL so he knows what he is talking about. Mostly.
Dr. Chao, better known to most as ProFootballDoc, made the following declaration on Monday. He basically said that Drake Maye suffered a secret shoulder injury during the AFC Championship.
Nobody had really noticed that this might be thing before Dr. Chao’s post. And then it went super viral.
The Patriots tried to pretend like the injury did not exist earlier in the week. When asked about the topic, head coach Mike Vrabel gave a classic head coach response:
“There’s not a player on our team that’s 100% healthy. I would imagine we will go through the injury report, and whenever we have to turn that in, we’ll turn it in. But nobody is 100%. This will be our 21st game.”
Maye said this on Tuesday:
“I’m feeling good. Going to get some extra rest. I really don’t think it was from the game, but just the build-up from throwing — this is what, including training camp, 30 weeks straight of throwing, four days a week. It can add up. I got some extra rest, and I’m feeling good and ready to go for the Super Bowl.”
However, New England listed its starting quarterback as “limited” during the first Super Bowl practice on Wednesday. That’s not nothing. Dr. Chao was right. A shoulder injury exists.
What’s the latest update?
Drake Maye was once again limited during practice on Thursday. He did not throw even one single pass during the part of the day that was open to the media. Not even to warm-up. Zero.
Maye did not throw but he lifted his arms straight up in the air to signal for a made field goal.
Quarterbacks did not throw during the portion of practice open to the media.
— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) January 29, 2026
Here’s Drake Maye raising his arms to signify the field goal was good for Andy Borregales 🤷♂️@WEEI #NEPats #SuperBowlLX pic.twitter.com/hX8q8D8li3
That seems like a good sign. His shoulders have full mobility.
Vrabel was once again asked about Drake Maye during the post-practice press conference. He reiterated that the shoulder injury is new. It is not a major concern.
Mike Vrabel was asked if Drake Maye’s shoulder injury was something he had been dealing with prior to Denver:
— WEEI (@WEEI) January 29, 2026
“No, because then he would’ve been listed on the injury report before then.”
He was asked in a follow-up what his level of concern was on Maye’s shoulder:
“Not much.” pic.twitter.com/KrVFWcIxWF
Will Campbell said his quarterback will be just fine.
Will Campbell on Drake Maye being listed on the injury report:
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) January 29, 2026
“He’ll be ready to go.”
–@CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/gI0LVrw82P
The Super Bowl will not be played until next Sunday. That extra time is a big help in recovery. Drake Maye does not have to throw this week to still get a full week of practice next week like a normal game week.
It sounds like the shoulder injury just needs some rest but we don’t know the full extent of his injury. He did end up throwing after the media left the field on Thursday, allegedly, and gave the following update:
“Trying to do whatever I can to get back to 100%. A lot of people in that locker room would say the same thing.”
Maye is going to play, even if he needs some help from Toradol. It’s the Super Bowl! The only question is whether he going to be at full strength. We’ll find out that answer in 10 days— if not sooner at practice.