Drake Maye shoulder injury doesn’t have Mike Vrabel overly worried

The Patriots’ quarterback was projected as a limited practice participant on Wednesday.

Foxborough, MA - January 21: New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye at practice on January 21, 2026. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

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.

Category: General Sports