The biggest story regarding the Patriots at the moment is quarterback Drake Maye, but not for reasons anyone expected. Maye, who finished second in MVP voting last year, is having a dreadful start to the 2026 season, as he leads the NFL with six interceptions through three games, has thrown just one touchdown pass, and ranks near the bottom of the league in terms of traditional quarterback rating (58.6) and QBR (46.1).
Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald wondered whether the injury Maye sustained to his throwing shoulder in January’s AFC Championship Game may be contributing to the problem, and he recently asked the third-year signal-caller about that issue. Although Maye said, “I wouldn’t say there’s a problem with my shoulder,” the full context of his responses to Kyed’s questions (available in these links) led the reporter to believe that Maye did not actually deny his shoulder is affecting his performance.
Discussion about Maye’s January injury has resurfaced because he appeared on this week’s injury report due to the same shoulder. The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero says Maye fell on the shoulder during the Patriots’ Week 3 loss to the Jaguars and subsequently received treatment, which required him to be placed on the injury report. However, Pelissero said Maye “ripped throws all of training camp” – Kyed’s observation that the QB has connected on fewer big plays in practice notwithstanding – and that Maye’s struggles are not related to his health.
Pelissero adds that there is no rift between Maye and head coach Mike Vrabel, as a Boston-area radio report suggested. Vrabel shut down that talk by saying he accepted the job as New England’s HC because of Maye’s presence.
Opposing coaches and scouts told Pelissero the offense as a whole simply looks choppy and disconnected, and that has forced Maye to try and do too much, which begets bad decisions. The Pats’ running game has not offered a great deal of support, and injuries along the offensive line have only made matters worse.
Despite those concerns, the Patriots have been able to move the ball; they just have seen too many drives end in turnovers. Although the score in their 35-6 loss to Jacksonville was telling, Maye and the offense did connect on five plays of 20+ yards, barely missed on a couple of others, and advanced into Jaguars territory on seven of their 10 possessions (h/t Pelissero). Plus, as ESPN’s Mike Reiss observes, the club’s wide receivers and tight ends rank fifth in ESPN Analytics’ open score metric, meaning getting open is not an issue even with WR A.J. Brown on injured reserve.
All of that offers reason for hope in Foxborough, provided Maye can overcome some of his unforced errors.
“I don’t feel like we’re going out there, getting outmatched and not moving the football. There are plays out there to be made,” Maye said (via Reiss). “It starts with me making them go and making good decisions.”