Update 1/29/2026: Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel not worried about Patriots QB’s shoulder injury
Mike Vrabel spoke about it before Thursday’s practice, Drake Maye touched on it afterwards: the Patriots quarterback’s shoulder injury is one of the big stories leading up to the Super Bowl. However, neither man seems particularly worried about the ailment.
While Vrabel already stated that there is “not much” to worry about from his point of view, Maye himself also sounded confident.
“Feel good. Got out there, moving around a good bit today,” he said. “This is the game you dream of playing. So, looking forward to getting out there. Can’t wait to play in the Super Bowl.”
Maye added that he would not anticipate any limitations throwing the football in the Super Bowl.
“No, I don’t think so. That’s why you spend time; that’s why you have trainers,” he pointed out. “I think it’s just been one of those things where it’s been a long season and sometimes things show up. I’ll do whatever I can to feel 100%, and I’m sure I’ll get if not there, as close as you can — 99, or do whatever I can to make sure I’m throwing and do whatever. I can to help the team win.”
The 23-year-old added that he did throw during Thursday’s practice inside the Patriots’ field house. His eventual participation level after being listed as limited on Wednesday’s projected injury report remains to be seen, but at the moment it appears the Patriots Doomsday Clock is nowhere near midnight as far as Maye’s shoulder is concerned.
Original story 1/29/2026: Drake Maye shoulder injury doesn’t have Mike Vrabel overly worried
The New England Patriots released a projected injury report on Wednesday, and Drake Maye was listed as a would-be limited participant. However, despite his quarterback nursing an injury to his throwing shoulder less than two weeks before the Super Bowl, head coach Mike Vrabel does not sound overly worried.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Vrabel stated that he would have “not much” concern about Maye.
“I try not to have a whole lot of concern. 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,” Vrabel explained.
“Make sure that our guys are focused on the first- and second-down plan. 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. Try to learn the opponent, get ready for first and second down.”
Maye downplayed the injury earlier this week, blaming the length of the season rather than any particular moment in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Broncos. On Thursday, he spotted during the brief media window at the beginning of practice.
Vrabel said that the team would not change its practice routine because of the QB being banged up.
“I think we’ll operate as we normally would here on Wednesday,” he said. “Even though it’s Thursday this is a Wednesday for us. And that’s kind of how we’ll approach it.”
The Patriots will practice Thursday and Friday before a day off on Saturday. They will hold a Super Bowl send-off rally on Sunday morning and later that day fly to Santa Clara to further prepare for their upcoming game with the Seattle Seahawks.
