New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is set for the 2026 NFL season after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained before the 2026 Super Bowl.
āMy shoulderās feeling great,ā Maye, 23, shared with sports reporter Kay Adams during his training camp on Friday, July 31. āI think that was a bummer way to end the last game.ā
The NFL star was injured during the AFC championship game in January after fending off Denver Broncos linebacker Jonah Elliss in the fourth quarter, a move that secured his teamās place in Super Bowl LX.
āIām feeling good. Iām feeling good. Weāre gonna get some extra rest, and really the only thing thatās from the game, I think just the build-up of throwing for, this is what, almost, including training camp, 30 weeks straight of throwing and four days a week,ā Maye said during a press conference afterward, addressing his health. āIt can add up. But Iāve got some extra rest. Iām feeling good, and yeah, ready to go for the Super Bowl.ā
Maye played through his injury during the subsequent Super Bowl but ultimately faced a 13-29 defeat against the Seattle Seahawks.
After the loss, Maye took time to recuperate before rejoining the training camp in July.
āI think keeping the main thing the main thing, and thatās, you know, my family, my faith and playing this game of football,ā he remarked on Friday about his pride in returning for his third season on the field. āHaving my family and my wife at home, we really tried to [stay humble]. Itās just part of who we are, and being from the South, [itās] saying, āYes maāamā and āNo maāamā and just not losing sight of who I am. I think thatās what gets you where you want to go in life.ā
Drake has been married to his middle school sweetheart, Ann Michael Maye, since 2025. Along with supporting his football career, she has treated the Patriots with homemade cookies during training camp.
āSometimes you got to take breakfast off or kind of eat, like, a yogurt or eat something small to try to save some room for some cookies,ā Drake joked. āShe makes [baked goods] and ⦠brings them to the offensive linemen! They make the rookies write out little notes and say thank you. Even the receivers want some, so everyone wants a little taste.ā



