What Josh McDaniels said about Drake Maye’s shoulder injury and confidence level

Drake Maye has officially been listed on the Patriots’ injury report for the first time this season. He has a right shoulder injury. Details beyond that, so far, have been scarce.

Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels told reporters Thursday that he believes the injury occurred during Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville.

“I believe he just got dinged last week,” McDaniels said. “Again, we haven’t had a big meeting and talked specifically about when this, that or the other happened, but yeah, you know, he ran the ball a few times last week.” 

Maye had been dealing with a shoulder injury leading up to and during the most recent Super Bowl. He did not appear on the Patriots’ injury report during the first two weeks of the season. Through three games, he has six interceptions against one touchdown pass.

On Wednesday, Maye told reporters that the shoulder isn’t affecting the way he is throwing the football. He also said that the shoulder isn’t affecting his decision-making, which has been one of the more troubling aspects of his recent struggles.

McDaniels said Maye’s shoulder has not affected the way the Patriots are able to call offensive plays.

“Again, he’s always been a guy that can run and do things with his legs and all that and he’s taken a few hits since he’s been in the National Football League,” McDaniels said. “That’s got to be part of the process when you can make things happen with your legs. You’re going to incur some hits.”

“So, they would obviously tell me if there was something that we felt like he couldn’t do, or we couldn’t do. That has not been the case. I know he’s a tough kid. I know that for sure. He doesn’t make a big deal out of much and so it’s business as usual for us.”

McDaniels was asked whether he has noticed issues with Maye’s confidence. So far, the 24-year-old quarterback has been unable to come close to his production from last season. McDaniels said he has spent time with Maye on and off the field and the quarterback’s demeanor hasn’t changed much.

“I’ve played golf with him, pickleball with him, I’ve watched him play football and I’m not really sure what changes that for him. He’s blessed in that regard. When I hit a tee shot in the woods, my confidence is shattered and I’m going to do it again, and again, and again.”

“He doesn’t really do that. He can do that and then the next one is down the middle and it’s 340 and you’re sitting there saying ‘how did that happen?’ I think his mindset is, and it’s the way you’ve got to be as a quarterback … you’ve got to have a short memory.

“Quarterbacks, if you throw the ball enough, something bad is going to happen. Yes, there are things that we can do better, things we can work on to try to make some of the negative scenarios that we’ve had happen go away. That’s what he’s focused on. But, his demeanor, his countenance, his facial expressions, his ability to interject things into meetings has not changed. I love that about the kid.”

Maye said his offensive line is doing a “nice job” and added that he needs to trust them. He took 47 sacks last season and already has nine through three games this season.

According to Next Gen Stats, only five quarterbacks have had a higher amount of time to throw per attempt than the 3.04 seconds Maye has gotten this season.

Losing A.J. Brown to an injury during the season opener was a stroke of bad luck. Trading Kayshon Boutte during the offseason and parting ways with Stefon Diggs took away a pair of trusted weapons.

But, Maye also has to do his part. His teammates are sticking by him as they roll into Buffalo this week.

“Nobody has lost confidence in Drake in this locker room. This is a team thing,” defensive lineman Milton Williams said. “They can say whatever they want about him, but like I said, ain’t nobody go out there and play perfect last week.”

Khari A. Thompson

Sports Reporter

Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.