New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye didn’t have to do much with his arm to win the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.
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The second-year quarterback went 10-of-21 passing for 86 yards. He did enough with his legs, rushing for 65 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots’ 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos.
The snowy weather played a factor in keeping the points at a premium for both teams.
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However, former San Diego Chargers team doctor David Chao believes Maye’s throwing game on Sunday might have been hampered by a right shoulder injury.
“Drake Maye injured his right throwing shoulder against the Broncos,” Chao posted on X. “How severe the injury is, and the exact diagnosis, remains to be determined. Heading into Super Bowl LX, I’m far more concerned about Maye’s shoulder than Sam Darnold’s oblique.”
Chao said he’s trying to gather data and do homework to find out how significant the estimated injury is for Maye. Chao noticed Maye appeared to get hurt in the third quarter when he grabbed his shoulder after landing on his elbow.
Chao thinks Maye could have an AC joint sprain to a posterior capsular sprain.
“He (Maye) admitted to bumps and bruises,” Chao said. “Summary is, there’s no question. Drake Maye has a right shoulder injury.
We’re going to study more video to determine AC joint sprain versus posterior capsular sprain. How much it will affect him in the Super Bowl? To be determined.”
Maye became the first NFL quarterback to start and win the AFC championship while throwing for fewer than 100 yards.
Per the league, Maye is set to become the youngest quarterback to start in the Super Bowl since former Miami Dolphins signal caller Dan Marino played against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XIX. The 49ers won the contest 38-16.
If Maye beats the Seattle Seahawks, the 2024 No. 3 pick would become the youngest quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl.
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