Is Drake Maye really hiding a shoulder issue? (Getty Images)
Drake Maye’s shoulder has once again become a talking point after the New England Patriots quarterback struggled badly against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3. Maye threw two interceptions, lost a fumble and finished with 199 passing yards in the 35-6 defeat.
Speaking on WEEI’s “Rich and Ken with Ted Johnson” podcast after a game, Maye said soreness comes with playing football and insisted there was nothing specific bothering him. “I mean, any time that you come out from a game and you’re sore, everybody’s dealing with things from the game,” Maye said on the podcast. “I wouldn’t say that it’s anything in particular.”
The Patriots have not indicated that Maye is dealing with a current shoulder injury. Still, his past issue and recent throwing problems have opened the door to fresh questions about what is really affecting his game. Maye’s shoulder issue dates back to the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos last season. He later needed a pain-killing injection to play against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. He did not undergo surgery during the offseason. That history has made his recent comments worth watching.
During his September 28 press conference, Vrabel said he was not aware of an injury that would have put Maye on the injury report or required treatment.
Bedard said people around the Patriots were “befuddled” by Maye’s comments about his shoulder and suggested that people around the quarterback could be “baking in an excuse” for his throwing. He said the quarterback rarely throws from a strong base and appears to guide the ball instead of letting it go freely. However, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel offered an even clearer response when asked about Maye’s shoulder. That has shifted attention from the shoulder to Maye’s mechanics. Greg A. Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal discussed the situation on his Patriots podcast after the Jacksonville loss. Bedard also pointed to Maye’s footwork.