The New England Patriots are in the middle of one of the most impressive turnarounds in league history. After several dismal years following Tom Brady’s exit from the franchise, head coach Mike Vrabel has the Patriots back in the Super Bowl in his first year on the job.
A lot of Vrabel’s and New England’s success this season can be attributed to the MVP-caliber year from second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who, despite a pedestrian playoff debut thus far, has the Patriots just one win away from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
Unfortunately, some brutal news has broken concerning Maye ahead of the Super Bowl.
“Patriots QB Drake Maye did not practice today due to an illness and a right shoulder injury,” reported league insider Ari Meirov on Friday.
#Patriots QB Drake Maye did not practice today due to an illness and a right shoulder injury.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 30, 2026
Fans reacted to the news on social media.
“Games in like 1 week btw…..he’ll play lmao no way some of yall overreactin,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“Man, that’s rough tough break for the kid right when he’s trying to build rhythm. Hope it’s minor and he’s back quick, because setbacks like this just feel cruel,” someone else added.
“That’s a concerning combo for the Patriots. Missing practice with both illness and a shoulder issue raises questions about his availability and readiness for upcoming games. The team will likely monitor him closely before deciding on his status for the next matchup,” one fan added.
It’ll be interesting to see if the injury impacts Maye’s availability for Super Bowl LX.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.