The Patriots began their road to Super Bowl 2026 in earnest with at least a modicum of concern about their star player.
Quarterback Drake Maye landed on New England’s Wednesday injury report with a right shoulder issue and, though the team did not practice, was listed as “limited” in a hypothetical scenario in which the team did.
On Tuesday, Maye joined WEEI in Boston to say that he should be ready to go in time and seemed to allay any fears about his shoulder.
“I’m feeling good. I got in some extra rest,” Maye told the sports radio network. “I don’t think it’s from the game. I think it’s just the buildup of throwing, including training camp, 30 weeks straight of throwing and four days a week. It can add up.
“But I got some extra rest and I’m feeling good and ready to go for the Super Bowl.”
In a defensive chess match — thanks in part to snowy conditions in the second half — Maye threw for just 86 yards on 10-of-21 passing but added 65 yards on the ground with one touchdown.
It was Maye’s legs that sealed the deal late in the fourth quarter for the Patriots when he scampered for seven yards on a naked bootleg, converting a third-and-5 and allowing New England to ice the game away and send the Broncos packing.
According to the Boston Herald, the MVP candidate improvised the play.
As for his quarterback adversary, Sam Darnold was also listed as limited as he continues to work through an oblique issue.
The injury didn’t seem to affect him much in the NFC Championship, though, as the Seahawks signal-caller threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns with a 127.8 rating.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
