USATSI 29168615 168422142 lowres
‘He’s Gonna Be Okay’ — Kendra Middleton Refuses To Panic Over Drake Maye’s Recent Struggles 1
Drake Maye has not exactly had the start the New England Patriots wanted from their young quarterback. After throwing three interceptions in the season opener, Maye still looked unsettled at times in Week 2, even though the Patriots bounced back with a 20-3 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That has brought plenty of attention to Maye; however, Kendra Middleton is not ready to make the QB the main problem. The Boston sports radio host believes there are other parts of the Patriots offense that deserve just as much scrutiny, especially with injuries already changing the group around him.
Kendra Middleton Defends New England Patriots Quarterback Drake Maye
New England Patriots, Drake Maye, NFLNew England Patriots, Drake Maye, NFL
Jul 25, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) answers questions from the media after training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Middleton discussed the Patriots ahead of their Week 3 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, with Maye’s recent performances naturally becoming part of the conversation. The Patriots are 1-1 after two games, and the offense is still trying to settle in with new players and injuries affecting the unit.
The Patriots added Romeo Doubs and A.J. Brown during the offseason; however, Brown is now sidelined after suffering an injury in the Week 1 loss to Seattle. Mike Onwenu is also unavailable, leaving another hole for the offense to deal with. Middleton believes those changes matter when judging Maye’s play.
“I wouldn’t want to be anybody else in the league outside of Jacksonville or the Patriots with their quarterback situation…Much more that you need to look at like the receivers, the dropped passes, the offensive line. He’s gonna be okay.”
.@KendraMiddleton is not ready to PANIC over Drake Maye’s recent struggles:
“I wouldn't want to be anybody else in the league outside of Jacksonville or the Patriots with their quarterback situation…Much more that you need to look at like the receivers, the dropped passes, the… pic.twitter.com/mRv4xKJdEi
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) September 25, 2026
The QB did make progress from the opener to Week 2. He cut down his interceptions from three against the Seattle Seahawks to three against the Steelers, while the Patriots moved the ball better and scored 20 points in the road win. Doubs also had a much bigger role, finishing with 96 receiving yards after being held without a catch in Week 1.
There are still obvious issues for Maye to work through. Middleton pointed to confidence as one area that could be affecting him, especially after facing several strong defenses over his recent stretch of games. She also believes that the third-year signal-caller can benefit from slowing things down and taking easier throws when they are available.
That is easier said than done with the Patriots still adjusting around him. Brown was expected to be an important part of the passing game before his injury, while Doubs is still settling into a larger role. The offensive line has also had to deal with the loss of Onwenu, creating another moving piece for an offense that has yet to find a consistent rhythm.
Maye, meanwhile, has offered a more positive view of where things are heading. The Jaguars will provide another test Sunday. The Patriots are facing a Jacksonville defense at home, and the 24-year-old will have another opportunity to show whether the progress from the Steelers game can carry over.