Patriots checklist Drake Maye as questionable vs. Payments

Drake Maye acknowledged earlier within the week that he felt “nice” and that he anticipated to start out for the Patriots in opposition to the Payments of their season finale. Nonetheless, the staff’s closing damage report of the week suggests his standing for Sunday’s recreation continues to be within the air.

The Patriots listed Maye as “questionable” for Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Payments attributable to a hand damage. In the meantime, cornerback Christian Gonzalez (concussion), heart Ben Brown (concussion), vast receiver Ja’Lynn Polk (shoulder), and security Jabrill Peppers (hamstring) have been dominated out.

However Maye’s standing for Sunday’s recreation has been underneath the microscope because the begin of the week. He left the Patriots’ Week 17 loss to the Chargers for a drive attributable to a head damage earlier than returning after clearing his concussion analysis. 

The damage concern isn’t the one cause why there have been questions over Maye’s standing for Sunday’s recreation, although. New England controls its personal future to safe the No. 1 general decide within the 2025 NFL Draft, with a loss guaranteeing that it’ll maintain the highest decide. Because the Payments are anticipated to play Josh Allen and their starters for a little or no quantity of Sunday’s recreation, an upset win for the Patriots is, in principle, extra believable. 

Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt has insisted that Maye could be underneath heart for the beginning of Sunday’s recreation.

“Drake seemed good [Thursday]. He’s able to go. He’ll be beginning the sport for certain,” Van Pelt mentioned Thursday. “I’m excited to get one other alternative … extra alternatives for him to develop.

“This provides him a chance to exit and play a staff we simply performed two weeks in the past. Have an excellent understanding of what they did in our recreation and see how properly we reply on this recreation.”

Moreover, Jerod Mayo mentioned on Wednesday that Maye will play if he’s “wholesome and able to go.” On Friday, Mayo added that Maye’s hand damage has had “no impact” on what he’s seen from his rookie quarterback in follow this week.

At the same time as Maye mentioned on Wednesday that he felt “nice” twice, he’s been restricted in follow all week. That’s allowed sixth-round rookie Joe Milton to earn snaps at follow this week. 

Mayo mentioned that Milton has “seemed good” at follow this week, however didn’t make a agency dedication on his position in Sunday’s recreation.

“All three quarterbacks will likely be on the recreation,” Mayo mentioned when requested if there’s a plan for Milton to be on the gameday roster.

“We’ll see how immediately goes, and it’s all the time a risk,” Mayo added when requested if Milton’s standing because the third-string quarterback will change for Sunday’s recreation. 

Milton hasn’t performed in a regular-season recreation but this season. When Maye suffered a concussion in October, Milton was the emergency backup behind Jacoby Brissett. Brissett additionally obtained the non-Maye snaps at quarterback of their loss to the Chargers.

Mayo acknowledged that it may he useful to play Milton in Sunday’s recreation for future analysis, however added that it’s robust to do when Maye wants snaps as properly.

“It’s all the time useful to see gamers who haven’t performed as a lot throughout the season go on the market and play in an everyday season recreation,” Mayo mentioned. 

“We additionally speak about growing Drake Maye on the similar time, so it’s robust. He’s been our emergency quarterback.”

Along with Maye, security Kyle Dugger (ankle/quadricep), tight finish Hunter Henry (foot), linebacker Anfernee Jennings (knee), Titus Leo (ankle), and linebacker Sione Takitaki (knee) are additionally listed as questionable for Sunday’s recreation. 

Because the Patriots are balancing accidents and potential draft decide consideration in Week 18, Mayo mentioned that the staff continues to be prioritizing successful. 

“I mentioned as a participant, as a coach, we’ve all the time – anytime we step on the soccer discipline, we count on to go on the market, play at a excessive stage and win,” Mayo mentioned.