There may be a super injury to watch ahead of Super Bowl 2026.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel gave an inauspicious answer to a question regarding quarterback Drake Maye’s health after a hard-hitting, frigid 10-7 AFC Championship game win against the Broncos in Denver on Sunday.
“There’s not a player on our team that’s 100 percent healthy,” Vrabel said Tuesday on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” when asked about the “internet doctors” speculating about Maye’s shoulder.
Asked if Maye was healthy enough to play at a high level, Vrabel said, “I would imagine we’ll go through the injury report and whenever we have to turn that in, we’ll turn it in. But nobody’s 100 percent. This’ll be our 21st game.”
Maye said after the game that he had “some bumps and bruises.”
Internet doctors have pinpointed one third-quarter scramble with 3:46 remaining, where he was tackled and immediately grabbed at his right shoulder before returning to the huddle.
Two plays later, Maye completed a 31-yard pass to Mack Hollins to set up a field-goal attempt, which was missed.
Drake Maye
Right shoulder injury
Here’s the play it happened on.
Most likely possibilities:
posterior capsular sprain
or
superior/posterior labral tear (10-11 o’clock)I think he got lucky, and it’s likely a sprain especially since he threw a dime 2 plays later to Mack… https://t.co/9jhiJ7xNC6 pic.twitter.com/BacQ6Hs3Vk
— Jesse Morse, M.D. (@DrJesseMorse) January 27, 2026
As of now, Maye is expected to play in the Super Bowl against the Seahawks, who boast a fierce defense.
Maye gets an extra week to prepare for the Super Bowl, which will be played on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, Calif.
If Maye is indeed injured, he’d join Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, who is currently dealing with an oblique injury.
Seattle has been forced to limit Darnold’s reps due to the injury and was even listed as questionable for the NFC Championship game against the Rams, but Darnold didn’t look hurt at all while going 25-for-36 with 346 yards, three touchdowns and zero turnovers.
