The playoffs haven’t exactly been the showcase many expected for New England Patriots QB Drake Maye, but he has a chance to rewrite the narrative in Super Bowl 60.
After three up-and-down performances by Maye against some of the NFL’s fiercest defenses were enough to reach the Super Bowl, the second-year quarterback has one more major test remaining in the Seattle Seahawks‘ swarming defense.
Complicating matters for Maye could be a shoulder injury that put him on the injury report during the first week of Super Bowl preparation.
Here’s what you need to know about Maye’s injury and whether it will impact his Super Bowl 60 status.
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Is Drake Maye playing in Super Bowl?
Despite multiple ailments, including a shoulder injury, Maye is expected to start Super Bowl 60 for the Patriots.
After some initial concern that he might be dealing with a shoulder injury after the AFC championship game, Maye was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday following the AFC championship win due to a shoulder issue.
On Friday, Maye sat out practice entirely due to an illness. Coach Mike Vrabel said Maye would have practiced if not for the illness.
Asked whether he was concerned at all about Maye’s illness, Vrabel said it’s nothing new for the Patriots.
“Nope. We’ve had a lot of guys over the last month or six weeks with illness,” Vrabel told reporters. “Again, trying to do what’s best for the player and the team. And try to take care of guys [and] don’t spread things. But we’ve worked with this here for the past six weeks.”
Then, on Wednesday, Maye was a full participant in practice, a good sign for his status.
Patriots QB Drake Maye, who injured his shoulder in the AFC championship game, was listed as a full participant in today’s practice. pic.twitter.com/73dS6jFBX4
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 5, 2026
Before he was placed on the injury report, Maye himself said he will be “ready to go for the Super Bowl” after receiving some extra rest during the two-week ramp-up to the game. Maye returned to practice along with the Patriots on Monday.
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Is Drake Maye injured?
Both Maye and Vrabel confirmed a shoulder injury for the second-year quarterback, but each has said they aren’t too concerned about it.
“Not much,” Vrabel said when asked about his level of concern. “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 is ready and we all have a plan.”
Asked whether he will have any limitations in Super Bowl 60, Maye was optimistic.
“No, I don’t think so,” he told reporters. “That’s why you spend time, that’s why you have trainers. I think it’s just been one of those things, where it’s a long season and sometimes things show up.”
Maye added that he is “going to do whatever I can to feel 100 percent,” or as close to it as possible.
Five days before Super Bowl 60, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Maye’s shoulder injury is “as minor a thing as you could ask for” and said the Patriots QB threw at practice on Monday as much as he typically does.
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Drake Maye shoulder injury
No exact injury diagnosis for Maye has been reported. Two days after the AFC championship game, Maye said he was “feeling good” and simply explained “30 weeks straight of throwing” can add up.
While Maye took some hits in the cold during the AFC championship game, NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry reported the 23-year-old “dealt with a right shoulder issue even before the Broncos game,” partly due to the wear-and-tear of the season.
During media day, which kicks off Super Bowl week, Maye was somewhat candid about his shoulder. “I feel good. I’ll be just fine,” Maye said. “I threw a good bit. I threw as much as I would at a normal practice. I felt great and looking forward to getting back out there Wednesday and Thursday for practice and Friday to get ready for a normal week of prep.”
It’s possible that more information about Maye’s shoulder injury comes to light after Super Bowl 60, but for now, the Patriots and the quarterback himself are downplaying concerns.
Drake Maye illness
Maye missed practice on Friday with an illness, but Vrabel didn’t sound too concerned about his quarterback.
Vrabel told reporters the Patriots have dealt with illnesses spreading around the locker room for the last six weeks, not too uncommon during the coldest months of the year, and he implied that part of the decision to hold Maye out of practice centered on preventing an illness from spreading further among the team.
Barring a surprise development, Maye isn’t likely to be impacted by an illness by the time Super Bowl 60 rolls around.
