On Saturday, the Patriots announced rookie quarterback Drake Maye has cleared concussion protocol, and has been removed from the injury report ahead of his team’s Week 9 game at Tennessee.
Additionally, multiple members of the media are reporting that Maye will get the start on Sunday against the Titans, marking his fourth consecutive game as the starting quarterback.
These reports echo what head coach Jerod Mayo told the press throughout the week, saying if Maye was cleared before kickoff, he would be able to “operate.”
“Operate” he will, as New England is set to face the No. 1 defense in the NFL based on total defense, allowing a league-low 265.4 yards per game.
Only five teams in the NFL are allowing less than 300 yards per game, and the Titans lead the next closest team by 16.3 yards. This is in large part due to the stellar play of their secondary, who lead the NFL in least passing yards allowed 151.6.
The Patriots are 1-2 with Maye as the starter, with that lone win coming primarily with backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett playing in relief of Maye, who exited his team’s Week 8 win against the Jets with a concussion only a few minutes into the second quarter.
Maye suffered his head injury on the second-to-last play of the first quarter, when the rookie took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood while sliding after an 18-yard scramble. No penalty was called, and Maye played the rest of the drive.
Between possessions, Maye was evaluated in the blue medical tent, and from there exited down the tunnel.
Initially, the Patriots announced he had a head injury and was questionable to return. Minutes later, the team downgraded him to “out” with a concussion.
Despite this concussion occurring only six days ago, the 22-year-old Maye has cleared all five phases of the NFL’s concussion protocol, and will be a go for Sunday’s contest in Nashville.
This news at QB has moved the spread a half-point, as New England goes from +3.5 to +3.0 in the wake of Maye being cleared at both BetMGM and FanDuel.