Patriots
Maye was under the league’s concussion protocol all week and was limited in practice.
Drake Maye will play in Sunday’s game against the Titans. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)
The Patriots will have their starting quarterback when they face the Titans.
Drake Maye has complied with the NFL’s concussion protocol and has been removed from the injury report for Sunday’s game, the Patriots announced Saturday. Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo previously said that if Maye had been cleared before Sunday’s game, he was expected to start against the Titans.
“Once he came out of the protocol, I think we felt like he was cleared by the medical professionals. He’ll be ready to play,” Mayo told reporters Friday when asked if he would be able to play if he wasn’t cleared minutes before Sunday’s game.
Maye entered the league’s concussion protocol during Sunday’s win over the Jets. He was on the wrong end of a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood when he took off for an 18-yard run late in the first quarter. Maye remained in the game for a few more plays, then he was removed before the team’s next possession.
Maye showed rapid progress through the league’s concussion protocol during the week. He appeared to be in phase 3 of the protocol on Wednesday before moving to phase 4 on Thursday. Phase 5 is the final phase of the protocol and allows players to return to normal football activities. Maye was limited in practice all week.
Even though Jacoby Brissett led the Patriots to a comeback win over the Jets, their offense has been significantly better in the two-plus games Maye has started. The rookie totaled 542 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions in three starts. He also totaled 112 rushing yards in those games, including a 17-yard touchdown against the Jets last week.
Maye will now have the opportunity to face a Titans defense that has allowed the fewest passing yards per game in the league this season. Mayo challenged whoever plays quarterback to play in Sunday’s game, regardless of who starts.
“We’re going to have to do a good job of combining protection, route concepts and quarterback play to neutralize that,” Mayo said. “In saying that, no matter who the quarterback is, I think we just can’t sit idly by. I think we need to move. You need to change the launch point, whether it’s through boots or through a dropback pass, 90s, all of those things will definitely help us.
Sign up for Patriots updates🏈
Get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox this football season.
