Just hours after the New England Patriots wrapped up a hard-fought, 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, reports surfaced that second-year quarterback Drake Maye — the NFL leader in passer rating at 113.5 — suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder in the game.
The injury reportedly resulted from a sack in the third quarter by Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga. But on Tuesday, NBC Sports Boston Patriots insider Phil Perry reported that Maye was, in fact, experiencing a shoulder “issue.” But that it occurred before the AFC Championship game in Denver.
“My understanding is that he was dealing with a right shoulder issue prior to the Denver game,” Perry wrote on his social media account. “It hadn’t limited him in practices or games, but wasn’t 100 percent. The Talanoa Hufanga hit, which resulted in Maye landing hard on his right side, didn’t help.”
Also on Tuesday, in his first public comments since the reports of his alleged injury surfaced, Maye gave his side of the story. Sort of.
Asked directly in an interview on Boston radio station WEEI whether or not he suffered a shoulder injury, Maye sounded upbeat — but managed to evade giving a direct answer.
Maye: ‘I’m Feeling Good’
“I’m feeling good. I’m feeling good. We got some extra rest, and really the only thing from the game is just the buildup of throwing for, what, almost 30 weeks straight of throwing,” Maye replied. “Four days a week, it can add up. But now that we got some extra rest, I’m feeling good and ready.”
The WEEI hosts pressed Maye, asking, “Do you expect to be limited in any way, either on the practice field or on the game field over the next two weeks?”
But the 23-year-old quarterback continued to talk around the question, avoiding a definitive answer.
“All things considered, I think I’m good right now. I’m feeling good and looking forward to getting out there and prepping for the Seahawks, and getting ready to go.”
Report Originated With Online Sports Doctor
On Monday night, Dr. David Chao — a former team physician for the then-San Diego Chargers — posted on his social media account, saying that Maye had suffered an injury to his right shoulder when he was sacked during the third quarter of Sunday’s game.
“Chao said there is little doubt Maye sustained a right shoulder injury, with further evaluation needed to determine whether it is an AC joint sprain or a posterior capsular sprain,” Chao’s site, Sports Injury Central, reported in a Monday posting. “While the full impact on his availability and effectiveness remains unclear, Chao said the concern level is elevated.”
Later on Monday evening, a second sports medicine specialist online, Dr. Jesse Morse, came to the same conclusion after analyzing video of the sack. But Morse dismissed the possible seriousness of the alleged injury.
“I think he got lucky, and it’s likely a sprain especially since he threw a dime two plays later to Mack Hollins,” Morse wrote on his social media account. “Is he sore? Yes. Did he significantly dislocate his shoulder? No, unlikely.”
Vrabel Says Talk on Injuries Comes Later
At a Tuesday press availability, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel also passed the buck when asked about Maye’s supposed injury.
“This is a sport where there’s gonna be things that come up,” Vrabel said, as quoted by NBC Sports Boston reporter Phil Perry. “We’ll talk about whatever status each player has for the game once we’re required to.”
The Patriots’ first injury report in the two-week lead-up to Super Bowl 60 is due on Wednesday. The Patriots are not scheduled to hold their first practice until Thursday. At that time, Maye’s status is likely to become clearer.
Patriots Drake Maye Breaks Silence on Shoulder Issue Said to Predate Denver Game