Did Drake Maye Suffer A Shoulder Injury During the AFC Championship Game?
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye appeared to suffer a right shoulder injury during the third quarter of New England’s win over the Denver Broncos, raising questions about his health heading into Super Bowl LX.
According to Dr. David Chao, Pro Football Doc, Maye was injured on a scramble midway through the third quarter when protection broke down and he leaked out to his left. He was tackled as he landed on his right elbow and across his body, immediately grabbing at his right shoulder after the play before returning to the huddle. The following snap was a handoff, and Maye was seen working out his shoulder between plays.
Dr. Chao said the sequence of events strongly suggests a shoulder injury. Two plays after the hit, Maye completed a 31-yard flea-flicker pass to Mack Hollins, a play Chao noted was schemed open. After that, Maye threw only a handful of additional passes, including an off-target attempt to the right flat and a throwaway, before the offense shifted to a run-heavy approach.
Postgame video added to the concern. Maye was seen jogging to the locker room while favoring his right shoulder and not swinging his arm normally. During his press conference, he appeared to protect the shoulder, using his left arm more prominently and supporting himself on the podium while the right shoulder sat noticeably lower. Maye acknowledged dealing with “bumps and bruises” following the 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. While the full impact on his availability and effectiveness remains unclear, Chao said the concern level is elevated, "I am far more concerned about Drake May’s right shoulder than Sam Darnold’s oblique heading into the Super Bowl. I’m not saying Drake May won’t play, and I’m not saying this is a season-ending issue. I’m saying that, as of Monday — nearly two weeks before the Super Bowl — the concern level is much higher for Drake May’s throwing shoulder than it is for Sam Darnold’s oblique."
New England has two weeks to monitor Maye’s progress before facing the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, where the quarterback’s shoulder health will be one of the game’s most closely watched storylines.
Stay tuned to SICscore.com for the latest updates on Maye's recovery timeline, Patriots injury news, and Super Bowl LX projections.
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