New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye landed on the team’s injury report Wednesday with a right shoulder injury.
Maye was a full participant in practice, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels provided more context on the injury Thursday.
“I believe it just got dinged last week,” McDaniels said.
Maye took several big hits inside the pocket during Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars while also running the ball four times — two scrambles, a quarterback sneak and an option run play in the red zone. McDaniels pointed to one of those runs as a potential time when Maye’s shoulder was injured.
“We haven’t had a big meeting and talked about specifically, like, exactly when this or that or the other happened, but yeah, he ran the ball a few times last week,” McDaniels said. “And I think that’s what happened.”
Speaking after practice on Wednesday, Maye said the injury has not affected his ability to throw the ball or his decision-making after he threw six interceptions through the Patriots’ first three games. McDaniels also said the injury has not impacted his ability to call games or execute their practice plan.
“It has not,” McDaniels said. “You know, again, he’s always been a guy that can run and do things with his legs and all that. And he’s taken a few hits since he’s been in the National Football League. That’s kind of been part of the process. When you can make things happen with your legs, you’re gonna incur some hits.
“They would tell me, obviously, if there was something that we felt like we couldn’t do or he couldn’t do. That has not been the case.”
Maye’s struggles have been a major factor in the Patriots’ 1-2 start to the season. Despite the early turmoil, McDaniels has not seen a change in Maye’s confidence or demeanor.
“I do not,” McDaniels said. “I mean, honestly, I’ve played golf with him, pickle ball with him. I’ve watched him play football, and I’m not really sure what changes that for him. He’s blessed in that regard. When I hit a T-shot in the woods, my confidence is shattered, and I’m going to do it again and again and again. He doesn’t really do that. He can do that and then the next one’s down the middle. It’s 340 [yards] and you’re sitting there going, ‘How did that happen?’
“I think his mindset is and it’s the way you have to be as a quarterback. … And yes, there are things that we can do better. Yes, there are things that we can work on to try to make some of the negative scenarios that we’ve had happen go away, and that’s what he’s focused on. But his demeanor, his countenance, his facial expressions, his ability to interject things in meetings has not changed, and I love that about the kid. I think, like I said, he’s blessed in that regard because I think there’s people that sometimes let those things weigh on them and God bless him.”