Drake Maye Ruled Out of Munich Game With Ankle Injury

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Lions in Munich after suffering a right ankle injury in the first half, and video of the play raises concern for a high ankle sprain. New England has not announced a diagnosis, and Tommy DeVito, the team’s primary backup, took over. The Patriots, 5-4 entering the day, trailed 28-3 in the fourth quarter.

A high ankle sprain involves the ligaments above the ankle joint that hold the two lower leg bones together, and it typically takes longer to heal than a standard ankle sprain, often several weeks. It also limits a quarterback’s ability to plant and drive off his back foot. The Patriots have a bye next week, and their next game is November 29 at the Chargers on Sunday Night Football, which gives Maye roughly two weeks before his next scheduled start. An MRI will clarify the severity and the timeline.

Drake Maye Injury History

Maye’s lower-body history is light, and ankles are part of it. At North Carolina in September 2023, he played through a sore ankle for roughly four weeks without missing a game, and in his final college game that November against NC State, he sprained his ankle late and played through it in the fourth quarter. In October 2024, as a rookie, he appeared on the injury report with a knee issue after his first career start, went for an MRI, and was a full participant in practice.

His upper-body history includes a hit to the head in a Week 8 game against the Jets in 2024 that led to a concussion evaluation, and a right throwing shoulder injury that landed him on the injury report after the AFC Championship Game win over the Broncos in January. He admitted afterward that he received an injection before Super Bowl LX, and he was listed with a right shoulder injury again in September, though he said it was not affecting his throwing.

This season, Maye has thrown for 2,282 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. The key updates are the team’s diagnosis, whether an MRI is ordered, and his status when the Patriots return to practice after the bye.