The New England Patriots quarterback has given his verdict on the injury that hindered his performance in Santa Clara
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has confirmed he will not need surgery on the throwing shoulder injury he carried into Super Bowl LX, saying rest alone should be enough to resolve the problem after a bruising end to the season.
Speaking after the team’s final offseason meeting at Gillette Stadium, the rookie revealed he required a pain-killing injection before the Super Bowl but expects a straightforward recovery.
“Time is the best healer,” Maye said. “I definitely just need time off. Nothing that needs anything to be done.”
The injury stemmed from a heavy hit late in the third quarter of the AFC Championship Game on January 25.
Sliding at the end of a 13-yard run, Maye landed awkwardly as Denver Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga came down on top of him, with his right shoulder taking most of the impact.
“My arm was feeling great all year. I don’t think throwing was the issue. It’s a case of having one hit in the AFC Championship Game that was unfortunate timing,” he explained.
The two-week gap before the Super Bowl allowed him to play, although he remained on the injury report throughout the build-up. Maye was reluctant to use the setback as an excuse for the Patriots’ defeat.
“You can’t blame things on injuries. Things happen like this all the time in the league. I was blessed this year – what a year of health.
“You can’t zone in on one little thing on the shoulder. It was just unfortunate that it happened to be the throwing one. At the same time, I could have prevented it or made more plays. I was feeling like I was able to make throws in the game and was myself.”
Maye reflects on painful Super Bowl
New England entered the Super Bowl with one of the league’s most productive offenses, ranking third in total yards during the regular season.
However, they struggled badly against Seattle’s top-ranked scoring defense and were shut out through the first three quarters.
Under constant pressure early on, Maye completed 6 of 11 passes for just 48 yards in the first half. Protection improved after the break but his rhythm never fully returned, and with the Patriots chasing the game he was forced into a high-volume fourth quarter.
He finished 27-of-43 for 295 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while being sacked six times in a 29-13 defeat.
“It stings. It’s going to sting for a while,” Maye said. “It’s what makes this sport special. We were close, and you got to try to find that extra edge. I didn’t play as well as I would have liked down the stretch, but I’m going to promise to do my best to work hard and get us back to those moments in those games.”
The Patriots now enter the offseason with renewed optimism. The six-time Super Bowl champions have one of the largest cap space budgets, of around $60million, and are expected to invest in their offense as they build an even better team for 2026.
With no surgery required and a full recovery expected through rest, Maye will return next season with a wiser head and cooler shoulders, even if he missed out on a ring this time.
