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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots reacts to a false start during the second quarter of Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Fox Sports 1 analyst Nick Wright put the New England Patriots on blast over the handling of quarterback Drake Maye’s shoulder injury. Wright stated his case on Fox Sports 1 earlier Thursday morning.
Maye was battling a shoulder injury that occurred during the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos. The injury itself was a hot-button topic throughout the week leading up to the Super Bowl. He elaborated on the injury following the game, indicating that he received an injection before the Super Bowl.
The shoulder injury lingered even before the AFC Championship Game. Early reports indicated that he was dealing with the injury prior to the contest against the Broncos. However, this injury was not enough to keep him out of practices or games, as noted in a report from NBC Boston.
That shoulder was tested against the stifling Broncos defense. He was tackled in the third quarter and landed on the shoulder. This was considered a moment where he reaggravated the injury.
Super Bowl week was when the injury was put more under the microscope. He was listed as a limited participant in practice at one point during the week, but was optimistic about his shoulder, indicating that it felt good. He was removed from the final injury report before the game, signaling that he was ready to go, as reported by NBC Boston.
The quarterback went 27-of-43 on the evening, going for 295 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He could not solve the mystery of the stifling Seattle Seahawks defense. The Patriots themselves did not score a point until the fourth quarter.
Wright wants New England Patriots to be punished
Now, Wright wants answers in regards to how the Patriots handled the injury. He blasted the team on First Things First and discussed how the organization should have handled the injury. The commentator also believes the Patriots should receive a form of punishment.
“If we are at Wednesday, and the number one story is the quarterback’s injury, the quarterback said, ‘I had the shoulder shot up,’ that he was dealing with something. And especially in the modern NFL world, where gambling is legal if not encouraged, it is the quarterback of a Super Bowl that I know no way to read it other than the team … fudged information on the final injury report leading into the Super Bowl. I think the NFL is obligated, whether it’s taking picks … they have to do something.”
It remains to be seen if the NFL will do anything regarding punishing the Patriots. The fact that he was on the final injury report suggests a certain level of transparency. Even still, that may not be enough to satisfy some, as the Patriots are now once again at the forefront of NFL conversations.
In the meantime, the patriots will look to enter the 2026 off-season with a clear vision and hope of things to come. They have found their coach and Mike Vrabel They have also found their franchise quarterback in Maye. They spent last offseason working diligently to rebuild the roster.
Now, it’s about building upon it. It’s clear the structure of the roster is in place, and that the foundation is there. Maye was able to take the steps necessary to elevate the organization, and that allowed the rebuild to accelerate ahead of schedule.
This shoulder injury will certainly be worth watching, as we progress through the offseason. The quarterback will have an opportunity to rest a bit before minicamp and training camp. Hopefully, this will be the only time that the injury is at the forefront of conversation. If anything, it serves as a reminder of how players pay through pain to get the NFL’s biggest prize.