On Thursday, the Patriots (14-3) held their first full practice in preparation of Super Bowl LX, where they’ll meet the Seahawks (14-3) at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA on February 8.
10 days away from the biggest game of his life, second-year quarterback Drake Maye has popped up on the injury report for a second consecutive day.
Maye was listed as a “limited participant” due to his now-famous shoulder injury, which “internet doctors” have theorized as having been sustained in the second half of the AFC Championship Game in Denver (14-3).
Here’s how the full practice report read from Thursday:
DID NOT PARTICIPATE:
- LB Harold Landry III (Knee)
- T Thayer Munford Jr. (Knee/Illness)
- LB Robert Spillane (Ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION:
- WR Mack Hollins (Abdomen)
- TE Hunter Henry (Not Injury Related/Rest)
- RB Terrell Jennings (Cleared Concussion Protocol/Hamstring)
- QB Drake Maye (Right Shoulder)
- T Morgan Moses (Not Injury Related/Rest)
FULL PARTICIPATION:
- DT Joshua Farmer (Hamstring)
After practice, Maye met with the media for his regularly scheduled weekly press conference, which usually happens on Wednesday but was delayed one day because of Monday’s snowstorm.
And with the team not partaking in any throwing drills during the portion of practice open to the media, the door was opened even further for questions about the 23-year-old’s right shoulder.
Here’s everything Maye had to say on Wednesday about his injury:
Question: “How are you? How's your shoulder? It came up on the injury report, so everyone's curious how you’re doing. How are you feeling?”
Drake Maye: “I'm feeling good. I got out there, moving around a good bit today. I was able to do some of the jog through, so I'm feeling good. I'm looking forward to being ready to go. This is the game you dream of playing in, so I'm looking forward to getting out there and getting a chance to play in the Super Bowl.”
Q: “Were you limited at all, or do you anticipate being limited moving forward?”
DM: “I'm just going to try to do whatever I can to get back to 100%. I think a lot of people in that locker room would say the same thing. Having a two-week break is nice to rest a little more and get to know the Seahawks as well as I can. From there, I'm looking forward to getting out to practice and trying to transfer that to live game reps.”
Q: “Do you think your ability to throw will be inhibited at all in the Super Bowl based on what you know about the injury so far?”
DM: “No, I don't think so. That's why you spend time. That's why you have trainers. I think it's just been one of those things where it's a long season, and sometimes things show up. I'm going to do whatever I can to feel 100%. I'm sure I'll get, if not there, as close as you can, 99%, or do whatever I can to make sure I'm throwing and like I said, do whatever I can to help the team win.”
Q: “Did you throw today?”
DM: “Yeah. We went through normal practice. I did some reps and did some things where I'm looking forward to trying to get some more reps here and there and feel it out.”
Q: “Are you surprised by all of the conversation around your right shoulder over the last couple days?”
DM: “No, I wouldn't say I'd be surprised. I mean, it's the right shoulder of a starting quarterback on an NFL team. So, I think it's pretty simple.”
You can hear Kevin Harlan and Kurt Warner on the national radio call of Super Bowl LX on Westwood One. We’ll have that broadcast for you right here on 93.7 WEEI-FM in Boston, and across the WEEI Sports Radio Network in New England.
Tune in each and every Monday throughout the football season to Patriots Monday on WEEI. Head coach Mike Vrabel joins The Greg Hill Show at 6:30 a.m. ET, and quarterback Drake Maye joins WEEI Afternoons.