Patriots' Drake Maye refuses to blame shoulder for disaster start to 2026
Drake Maye says his shoulder isn't the problem, even with seven turnovers and a spot on the injury report.
D rake Maye doesn't want to use his shoulder as an excuse. The New England Patriots quarterback spoke with reporters on Wednesday, after appearing on the injury report for the first time this season, and dismissed the idea that his right shoulder discomfort has anything to do with the team's rough start.
"No, it hasn't. It hasn't. And it doesn't impact my decision-making," Maye said. "That's what makes and breaks play for quarterbacks. I don't feel like we're struggling to move the ball. And I think that's one of the biggest things for me."
The numbers help explain the questions. Through his first three games, Maye has completed 63.8% of his passes for 585 yards , with just one touchdown and six interceptions, plus one lost fumble. His seven turnovers are the most in the NFL.
The Patriots are 1-2 after a tough 35-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars , a game in which Maye completed 14 of 25 passes for 199 yards and threw two interceptions .
The contrast with 2025 is clear. That season, Maye threw for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns, completed 72% of his passes and committed just 11 turnovers in 17 starts . Those numbers earned him Second-Team All-Pro honors and a second-place finish in MVP voting.
A shoulder with a history
The questions about his shoulder date back to the AFC Championship Game against Denver , where he first hurt it. After that game, the quarterback acknowledged that he received an injection to manage the pain before the Super Bowl , a 29-13 loss to Seattle in which he didn't look comfortable. The offseason rest was expected to solve the problem.
His recent answers, however, haven't fully closed the door. After Sunday's loss, Maye said he "wouldn't say there's a problem" with his shoulder, but he didn't completely deny the discomfort either. According to reports, that stance has created some confusion within the organization, while the team insists there is no injury affecting his performance.
Maye was a full participant in Wednesday's practice despite appearing on the report with a right shoulder issue. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez , defensive tackle Christian Barmore and offensive tackle Morgan Moses did not practice.
The Patriots travel to Buffalo on Sunday to face Josh Allen's Bills , looking for answers away from home.
