The conversation around his shoulder came as no surprise.
“Was I surprised? No, I wouldn’t say I was surprised,” said Maye, ultimately listed as one of five players who were limited at practice. “It’s the right shoulder of a starting quarterback on an NFL team. It’s pretty simple.”
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Maye did not throw a pass in the relatively small window the media had to view practice. He said he did throw, and went through “a normal practice.”
Asked if he was limited at all, and if he anticipated being limited in the lead-up to the Super Bowl, Maye seemed to indicate that he’s going through the usual bumps and bruises that go with a long season.
And that the two weeks between the AFC Championship game and the Super Bowl will certainly help.
“I’m just trying to do whatever I can to, you know, get back to 100 percent,” Maye said. “I think a lot of people in the locker room would say the same thing. Having a two-week break, it’s nice to rest a little more and get back and get to know the Seahawks as good as I can. And from there, looking forward to going out to practice and trying to transfer that to live, game reps.
“That’s why you have good trainers. I think it’s just been one of the things where it’s a long season, and sometimes you show up and do whatever I can to feel 100 percent. I’m sure I’ll get — if not there, as close as you can. Ninety-nine or whatever I can. And make sure I’m throwing and, like I said, do whatever I can to help the team win.”
Prior to practice, coach Mike Vrabel was asked about his level of concern regarding Maye’s shoulder.
Drake Maye had no problem celebrating a successful kick by Andy Borregales inside the Patriots’ practice bubble.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
“Not much. I try not to have a whole lot of concern,” Vrabel said. “I just want to try to prepare the football team and make sure that everybody’s ready and that we all have a plan and not to surprise anybody. And make sure that our guys are focused on the first- and second-down plan.
“I know that we try to map out the week here — or week and a half — and not look at the end of it, but focus on what we can do today. You know, try to learn your opponent, get ready for first and second down.”
The Patriots will practice Friday, and have the day off Saturday before heading to Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday. Vrabel said he didn’t anticipate the Patriots changing their practice routine for Maye.
“I think we’re going to operate as we normally would here on a Wednesday,” he said. “Even though it’s Thursday, this is a Wednesday [schedule] for us. And that’s kind of how we’ll approach it.”
Maye is in line to become the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl, trailing only Dan Marino, who was 23 years, 127 days old when he started Super Bowl XIX for the Dolphins. Maye will be 23 years, 162 days old on Super Bowl Sunday.
An MVP finalist in his first full season as a starter, Maye completed 72 percent of his passes during the regular season for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. In addition, he rushed for 450 yards and four touchdowns on 103 carries.
While Maye’s postseason numbers have dipped, he’s still made plays in the biggest moments, including a 7-yard scramble on third and 5 to clinch last Sunday’s win over the Broncos.
“I think it’s grown,” Vrabel said of Maye’s development. “I think just as we’ve gone through this entire year in this program, and the more that he’s been out there and the games have kind of built up on us, really, we’ve done a nice job in those situations. I think he’s improved in them. He’s a big part of why we’re here, obviously.”
Coach Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye, and other Patriots speak from Foxborough before traveling to California for Super Bowl LX.
Christopher Price can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social.
