Will Drake Maye play vs the Seattle Seahawks? Dr. David Chao gives latest shoulder update

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye may have hurt his right (throwing) shoulder during the AFC Championship Game on January 25, 2026, in Denver, Colorado, when the Patriots beat the Denver Broncos 10–7 to reach Super Bowl LX. Video from the game showed Maye landing awkwardly on his right shoulder after a third-quarter run before quickly getting up and staying in the game. Drake Maye, who is 23 years old, answered questions about his body after the game and said he felt just “some bumps and bruises.” He also pointed out that two weeks of rest before Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, California, would help him heal. The Patriots have not officially listed an injury for Maye yet, and head coach Mike Vrabel said that nobody on the team is 100 % healthy this late in the season. Former NFL team doctor Dr. David Chao has publicly said he believes Maye did injure his right throwing shoulder in that AFC title game. Chao pointed to the moment Maye landed on his right elbow and then grabbed his shoulder during the play. In a video explanation, Chao said that the look of Maye’s movement suggests an injury, possibly a posterior capsular sprain or something affecting the AC joint. He added that the hit did not look like a simple tweak, and he is “more concerned” about Maye’s shoulder than about Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold’s oblique issue as both teams prepare for the Super Bowl. Despite this, Chao also stressed that the exact type and severity of the injury are “to be determined,” and he stopped short of saying it would keep Maye out of the big game. Two plays after the suspected hurtful tackle, Maye completed a long 31-yard pass to wide receiver Mack Hollins, showing he could still throw the ball well during that decisive moment. On January 27, 2026, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was asked about Maye’s health during a radio interview. He did not say if Maye was injured, instead noting that “no player on our team is 100 % healthy” this late in the season and that the team would share details in the official injury report when required. Vrabel did not confirm or deny that Maye has a shoulder problem. Maye himself said he felt the normal soreness that comes from a full playoff run and that the two-week layoff before the Super Bowl gives him a good chance to rest and get ready. The Patriots practice this week before traveling to California, and Maye is expected to meet the media again after practice. If Maye shows pain or limited movement in his right shoulder as he prepares for Super Bowl LX, that could change how fans and analysts view his status.